Clinical Complications and Their Management

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2018 Apr;32(2):223-236. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2017.11.005. Epub 2017 Dec 28.

Abstract

The hallmarks of thalassemias are ineffective erythropoiesis and peripheral hemolysis leading to a cascade of events responsible for several clinical complications. This pathophysiologic mechanism can be partially controlled by blood transfusions or by correction of the severity of ineffective erythropoiesis. Thalassemias include a spectrum of phenotypes. Two main groups can be clinically distinguished: transfusion-dependent (TDT) and non-transfusion-dependent (NTDT) thalassemia. Both conditions are characterized by several clinical complications along life; some are shared, whereas some have higher prevalence in one group over the other. The authors present the most common clinical complications in TDT and NTDT and their management.

Keywords: Endocrinopathies; Heart failure; Ineffective erythropoiesis; Iron overload; Liver disease; Thalassemia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Transfusion
  • Bone Diseases / diagnosis
  • Bone Diseases / etiology
  • Bone Diseases / therapy
  • Disease Management
  • Endocrine System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Endocrine System Diseases / etiology
  • Endocrine System Diseases / therapy
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis
  • Heart Diseases / etiology
  • Heart Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / etiology
  • Liver Diseases / therapy
  • Thalassemia / complications*
  • Thalassemia / diagnosis
  • Thalassemia / therapy
  • Thrombophilia / diagnosis
  • Thrombophilia / etiology
  • Thrombophilia / therapy
  • Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Vascular Diseases / etiology
  • Vascular Diseases / therapy