Thalassemiais a hereditary disorder that affects the production ofhemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the component of red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues of the body.
There are many types of thalassemia.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Symptoms can range from none at all to severeanemiathat requires frequent blood transfusions.
Learn what having thalassemia may mean for you during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that impairs the production ofhemoglobin.
Hemoglobin normally is made of four chainstwo alpha chains and two beta chains.
In thalassemia, the body is unable to make either alpha or beta chains in adequate amounts.
This means red blood cells aren’t made properly or they are destroyed.
There are four types ofalpha thalassemia, and two main types of beta thalassemia.
The prevalence among those who were transfusion dependent was roughly the same as people without thalassemia.
However, some limited evidence suggests that certain types of thalassemia may have some protective effect against COVID-19.
For example, some of the common complications and coexisting conditions because of thalassemia may also worsen COVID-19.
(Note: The overall mortality rate for COVID-19 is currently less than 1%.).
It’s important to note that complications of thalassemia likely played a role in the severity of outcomes.
It’s recommended that antibiotics be started immediately if people develop a fever or other signs of an infection.
Respiratory failure may occur just as with people who do not have thalassemia.
Thalassemia also increases the likelihood to form blood clots.
Heart-Related Complications
Some people with thalassemia have cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
This complication should be monitored and treated as it is for people with other forms of preexisting heart disease.
Adrenal insufficiency (a lack of sufficient hormone production by the adrenal glands) can occur with thalassemia.
Treatment is with corticosteroids.
Among people with thalassemia, little is known about long-term complications from COVID-19 at this time.
Recap
People with thalassemia tend to experience similar complications from COVID-19 as those without thalassemia.
In fact, some medications used for thalassemia may actually be helpful.
Managing Anemia
Blood transfusionsare a mainstay of treatment for some people with thalassemia.
Current recommendations are that a person’s usual regimen of transfusions should be continued during the pandemic.
That said, the shortage of the blood supply has proven challenging.
For those who have not yet started the medication, delaying the use of the medication should be considered.
These medications bind to iron so that it can be expelled from the body.
These drugs can reduce inflammation in blood vessels (endothelial inflammation) during viral infections.
It’s not known whether this therapy has any effect on the outcomes of COVID-19 in people with thalassemia.
In that event, it’s advisable that the therapy be stopped until the infection has cleared.
People who have had splenectomies have a greater risk of developing bacterial infections as well as sepsis.
An exception is for people who have already begun the conditioning process for a stem-cell transplant.
These transplants should proceed.
On one side of the equation, glucocorticoids can slow the clearance of the virus from the respiratory tract.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to blood bank shortages, which have created challenges for people with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.
Certain medications have been approved to reduce the frequency of transfusions needed.
Summary
Thalassemia may increase the risk of serious outcomes of COVID-19.
Additionally, COVID-19 has complicated some treatments for thalassemia, such as the availability of lifesaving blood transfusions.
Prevention measures are very important.
The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially those with chronic illnesses.
Yet, no matter how difficult the trial, there are often positive points.
Try taking a few moments to list a few of the positive areas in your life.
Vitamin and mineral supplementation may be recommended for some people with thalassemia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium.
may help support the immune system’s ability to fight infections.
The dosages and timing, however, should be carefully discussed with your healthcare before starting any supplement.
There is some limited evidence that certain types of thalassemia may offer some protection against SARS-CoV-2.
This is the most important step in keeping you out of the hospital and alive.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed.
As new research becomes available, well update this article.
For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
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