THALASSAEMIA - WATCH OUT FOR SIDE EFFECTS IN TREATMENT - HINDU 17.01.13
Thalassaemia,
an inherited disease renders patients unable to produce enough blood the body
needed. Therefore, the patients need life-long blood transfusion periodically.
Along with the
heavy financial burden, it also involves the hazard of iron is the transfused
blood accumulating in vital organs such as least and liver, causing damage to
these. But recent developments an offering a solution. Iron chelathon drugs can
be taken orally by dissolving them in water.
The only
permanent cure for thalassaimea was a stem cell transplant from relatives. Even
then the rejection rates did cause some concern, said Dr.Revathi Raj. She said
that major hospitals and blood banks could adopt children with thalassaemia and
create a pool of donors. She also recalled that the Tamil Nadu government had
passed an order mandating that blood transfusions for these patients must
be done free of charge.