• Wickes D

• Affiliation / National College of Chiropractic. Department of Diagnosis
• Affiliation(G) / United States / Illinois / Lombard
• Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / diagnosis
• beta-Thalassemia / diagnosis
• beta-Thalassemia / therapy

Heterozygous beta-thalassemia, the most common of the thalassemia syndromes, is often confused clinically with iron deficiency anema. The practical methods of differentiation between heterozygous beta-thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia are discussed; these include differentiating formulas, serum iron and iron binding capacity determinations, and hemoglobin electrophoresis. The case studies of heterozygous beta-thalassemia which were initially diagnosied as iron deficiency anemia are presented. Theoretical and practical aspects of the management of beta-thalassemia, including the use of alpha-tocopherols, are presented.

Author keywords: thalassemia, anemia, hypochromic

Author affiliation: Senoir Resident, Family Practice, National College of Chiropractic Department of Diagnosis

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Article only available in print.