Presented by:Dr. Afsana Jahan (PGT)

Dr. Aditi Baruah (MD); Dr. P. Bishwanath (MD)Department of Paediatrics

Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh

Thalassemia is the commonest chronic haematological

disease needing repeated blood transfusion.

North-East specially Assam is a reservoir of abnormal

haemoglobins & also thalassemia because of ethnic

diversity of the inhabitants.

Present thalassemia clinic was established in April’2005,

AMCH, Dibrugarh where regular follow-up of thalassemia

pateints are done.

To study the follow-up cases of haemo-

globinopathy with special reference to

thalassemia in thalassemia clinic

Place of Study : Thalassemia clinic, AMCH

Period of Study : May’2005 to Oct’2007

Study universe : 50 diagnosed and registered

cases of Haemoglobinopathy

Selection criteria : Cases of Haemoglobinopathy

diagnosed by HPLC.

SPLEEN SIZEβ THALASSEMIA

MAJORHbE – β

THALASSEMIA

Not palpable 1 3

< 2cm 0 2

2 – 7cm 1 11

>7cm 5 2

Splenectomized 4 6

No. of patients

Drug and dose

mg/kg/day

Length of study

S. Ferritin level (μg/L)

Initial Final

16Deferiprone

50 – 1001yr 3261 1420

4Desferoxami

ne35 – 55

1yr 3190 1392

3 Combined9month

s5261 1276

Family study and convincing parents and relatives for necessity of the test.

Irregular follow-up visits. Irregular blood transfusion Lack of voluntary blood donation. Cost of filters and chelation therapy limits

their use. Cost of different laboratory tests.

Public awareness. Education of health professional. Antenatal diagnosis. Emphasis on conventional treatment in particular

chelation in view of its high efficacy. Cure of the disease with increasing possibility of

bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy. Concrete support for achieving high standard for

management of thalassemia in this part of Country.

Thalassemia clinic is playing an important role in making thalassemia a preventable, manageable and curable disease in prospect of high incidence in this region.