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Beta Thalassemia Trait

key information

source: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

year: N/A

summary/abstract:

What is beta thalassemia trait?

Beta thalassemia affects the hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
All red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. People with beta thalassemia do not make enough hemoglobin.
People with beta thalassemia trait have both normal hemoglobin A and the abnormal beta thalassemia (β) hemoglobin in their red blood cells.
Beta thalassemia is common in people of African, Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern descent.

People with beta thalassemia trait do not have beta thalassemia disease or sickle cell disease. They cannot develop these diseases later in life. They can pass beta thalassemia trait to their children.

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