While blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy (iron-binding drugs that are sometimes given via infusion) require traveling to a clinic or hospital, there are many healthcare visits that can be handled virtually. Farmakis D, Giakoumis A, Angastiniotis M, Eleftheriou A. The researchers found that people with beta thalassemia minor had: However, the researchers didnt find statistical significance for any of these parameters, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the study. What are the risks of having COVID if you have beta thalassemia? Its also the only way to tell if youre a silent carrier. Thalassemias | Johns Hopkins Medicine People with certain medical conditions. The researchers recommend that people with thalassemia major should be followed closely by a doctor. In fact, some medications used for thalassemia may actually be helpful. Clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for people with thalassemia. Vitamin and mineral supplementation for -thalassemia during COVID-19 Am J Hematol. COVID-19. It causes mild to severe respiratory illness with some flu-like symptoms. Brancaleoni V, et al. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. In a preprint review of studies from late July 2022, researchers examined how beta thalassemia minor affects outcomes of COVID-19. 8600 Rockville Pike The results provide hope that people receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will develop similar lasting immune memories after vaccination. and transmitted securely. I declare no competing interests. You likely wont have symptoms or may have mild symptoms. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that has become a global public health concern after being first reported in China and has subsequently spread worldwide. Susceptibility of -Thalassemia heterozygotes to COVID-19. Daidone R, Carollo A, Perricone MP, Messina R, Balistreri CR. COVID vaccine & autoimmune disease FAQ. For those who develop COVID-19, doctors should be aware of this increased risk of a secondary bacterial infection so that antibiotics can be started early with any signs, such as a fever. But its most common in the Mediterranean, where incidence can be as high as 15%. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Whats the outlook for people who have beta thalassemia? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "As an individual, you have your blood typethere's nothing you can do about it.". Looking at a small sample group early on in the pandemic, the overall mortality rate of those with thalassemia from a COVID-19 infection was 18.6%, compared with a mortality rate of 4.71% in the general population. Blood clots are fairly common with COVID-19, and many physicians view it as a disease of blood vessels. COVID-19 pandemic and care of transfusion-dependent patients of thalassaemia: Experience from a paediatric centre in North India. Early in the pandemic, two studies published in the Blood Advances journal in October 2020 showed a possible link between blood type and vulnerability to COVID-19. With more research, we may one day have a clearer understanding of the connection between COVID-19 and different blood types. 2020;95(8):E198-E199. 2023 Mar 2;24(5):4809. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054809. What is Thalassemia? | CDC As a result, our understanding of the connection to blood type continues to evolve. In a 2022 study, researchers found lower rates of vaccine-related side effects among 186 people with thalassemia major than in vaccine clinical trials. Munkongdee T, et al. The forgotten people with thalassemia in the time of COVID-19: South Asian perspective. Marhaeni W, Felicia FV, Sumadi Jap AL, Hartoyo E, Andayani P. Front Med (Lausanne). SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta thalassemia: Preliminary data from the Italian experience. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Since those studies, a fair amount of research has been conducted on blood type and COVID-19 risk. Bender MA, et al. Newborn screening practices for beta-thalassemia in the United States. Vulnerability of -thalassemia heterozygotes to COVID-19: Results from a cohort study. Iron overload due to repeated transfusions is the cause of many complications seen with thalassemia, and therefore many people are treated with iron chelation therapy. ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, UOC Medicina Generale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive condition. Treatment is with corticosteroids. Prevalence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in transfusion dependent and non-transfusion dependent -thalassemia patients and effects of associated comorbidities: an Iranian nationwide study. Thalassemias. (2022). If you have one unaffected gene, it mostly overrides the faulty gene. Acta Biomed. -Thalassemia is the most prevalent single gene blood disorder, while the assessment of its susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) warrants it a pressing biomedical priority. Thalassemia may cause you to experience anemia-like symptoms that range from mild to severe. SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with -thalassemia: The French experience. People with beta thalassemia minor can have anemia so mild they dont know they have it. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially those with chronic illnesses. In fact, some people prefer being able to communicate with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their own home. 2020; 10.1002/ajh.25840 [Epub ahead of print]. Needs T, et al. Epub 2022 Jul 5. By. Experts Explain. With thalassemia trait, your red blood cells are smaller than those in people who dont have the trait. ; 4 Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences . There are no extra safety precautions necessary for people with beta thalassemia who get vaccinated against COVID-19 when compared with people in the general population. However, certain issues, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, blood clots, and heart-related complications, should be monitored for. Some researchers hypothesize that thalassemia might be protective against COVID-19 as it is against malaria. (2022). Impaired immune cell . Accessibility Can You Get a COVID Vaccine If You Have Beta Thalassemia? - Healthline Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. 2021;27:e929207. COVID-19 and thalassemia: Frequently asked questions. In general, people with severe diseases are at a higher risk from COVID-19. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These drugs can reduce inflammation in blood vessels (endothelial inflammation) during viral infections. Some genes contribute to the alpha chain, while others contribute to the beta chain. Autoimmune diseases like Sjgrens syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. They often share similar symptoms but have different causes as well as different treatments and severity. April 20, 2020. If you have minor or no symptoms, your provider may suspect thalassemia based on the results of a routine blood test. Orphanet J Rare Dis. Management of Hemoglobin Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic This complication should be monitored and treated as it is for people with other forms of preexisting heart disease. Alpha thalassemia. Beta Thalassemia in Children - Nationwide Children's Hospital Could some people with thalassemia have a natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2? Hemoglobin allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen to other cells throughout your body. COVID-19 in benign hematology: emerging challenges and special considerations for healthcare professionals. Beta-Thalassemia Minor and SARS-CoV-2: Physiopathology, Prevalence, Severity, Morbidity, and Mortality. Types include alpha and beta thalassemia. 1,5% global population . doi:10.1002/ajh.25840, Farmakis D, Giakoumis A, Cannon L, et al. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with thalassemia may be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! This means you have lower levels of hemoglobin, which could result in mild anemia. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. Guidelines for the Management of Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia, 3rd ed. This could be dangerous, as too much iron can cause serious health problems. Let's look at why and how to get support to stop drinking: While not as serious as other causes of chest pain, anemia-related chest pain can be a sign that your current treatment plan isn't working. Coronavirus: People with thalassemia face "blood shortage", appeal for Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes you not to make enough hemoglobin, a protein in your blood. They also may have antiviral effects and positive effects on the immune system, particularly with RNA viruses (viruses that have RNA as its genetic material, such as the virus causing COVID-19). 2020;108:154260.doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154260, Leblanc JF, Germain M, Delage G, et al. People having hematological disorders and hypercoagulability state need extra precautions because of the increased risk of thrombosis after COVID-19 vaccination. The people with hidden immunity against Covid-19 - BBC Future The one gene defect, beta thalassemia trait (minor), is asymptomatic and results in microcytosis and mild anemia. doi:10.12659/MSMBR.929207, Drouin E. Beta-thalassemia may protect against COVID 19. Am J Hematol. Vaccination can help prevent COVID-19 infection and prevent severe illness if you do. government site. Thats because two genes, HBA1 and HBA2, are responsible for making hemoglobin alpha. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your red blood cells are likely to be smaller than is typical. Am J Hematol. EHA and TIF explore how COVID-19 is affecting thalassemia and SCD (2022). We studied 255 positive COVID-19 participants unvaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), consecutively . The current evidence suggests that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of side effects for most people with autoimmune disease, according to the Global Autoimmune Institute, which reviewed the available scientific literature. -, Motta I, Migone De Amicis M, Pinto VM, et al. Information for people with thalassemia - COVID-19 Vaccine When looking into thalassemia and COVID-19 risk, it's important to identify both the risk of potential exposure and susceptibility.