Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Miscellaneous Questions => Topic started by: Manal on July 11, 2011, 03:28:35 PM

Title: Free alpha chains Vs free beta chains
Post by: Manal on July 11, 2011, 03:28:35 PM

1- I was just wondering does the excess beta chains in HB H (alpha thal) have the same bad effect in terms of oxidative stress as the excess alpha chains in beta thal  intermedia? 

2- When hydroxurea is given to beta thal, the purpose is to make the gamma chains combine with the excess alpha chains in order to produce fetal hb. What I can not understand is that why hydroxurea is sometimes given to HB H patients. They don't have enough alpha chains in the first place, so to what will the gamma chains combine with?

Manal

Title: Re: Free alpha chains Vs free beta chains
Post by: Andy Battaglia on July 11, 2011, 05:13:15 PM

I was not aware that hydroxyurea is used with HbH. It would not be able to help raise Hb for the reasons you stated.