Everyone knows that Mediterranean anemia is genetic, determined by the genes carried by one or both parents. But do you know how likely it is to inherit Mediterranean anemia? When is the best time for pregnant women to be tested for Mediterranean anemia? What are the symptoms of Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women? Can Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women be cured? Today, let's find out the answers to these questions!
What are the chances of inheriting Mediterranean anemia
In general, if two individuals with the same type of Mediterranean anemia reproduce, there is a chance of giving birth to a severe anemia patient. To determine whether you have extremely mild or mild Mediterranean anemia, blood tests for peptide chain detection and gene analysis are necessary, but there are not many units that can accurately detect it at present. If it is confirmed that both you and your partner are extremely mild or mild beta-thalassemia patients, your children will have a one in four chance of being completely normal, a one in two chance of being mild anemia patients, and a one in four chance of being moderate or severe anemia patients.
The genetic changes of alpha-thalassemia, on the other hand, are more complex. The spouse of an individual with mild alpha-thalassemia needs to undergo detailed genetic analysis to predict the chances of their offspring becoming moderate or severe Mediterranean anemia patients.
If both spouses carry different types of thalassemia genes, or if only one spouse carries the thalassemia gene, their children will not have thalassemia. If both you and your partner are mild thalassemia patients of type A or B, the fetus must undergo prenatal examination to confirm if it is a severe anemia patient. As the test results take time, prenatal examination must be conducted in the early stages of pregnancy.
The rate of inheriting these four types of cancers is the highest when the parents have freckles, and the chances of inheritance are even greater for daughters.
The best time for pregnant women to be tested for Mediterranean anemia
The screening for Mediterranean anemia is generally carried out during the first prenatal examination. If the expectant father has not undergone premarital examination and has not been tested for Mediterranean anemia and genes, then the expectant father should also participate in the first prenatal examination and have blood tests done.
What are the symptoms of Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women
If the symptoms of Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women are severe, it can easily lead to the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension. It can also lead to ischemic shock due to anemia during delivery, and even cause myocardial damage. If pregnancy-induced hypertension is detected during pregnancy check-ups, this issue should be taken seriously. It is necessary to undergo timely examination, early treatment, and daily care. At the same time, family members should provide more care for pregnant women with Mediterranean anemia. The clinical manifestations of mild Mediterranean anemia and iron deficiency anemia are very similar and are often misdiagnosed.
1. Mediterranean anemia patients sweat more than normal people and often feel hot at night.
2. Mediterranean anemia patients often feel the need to drink more water and wake up at night to urinate.
3. Mediterranean anemia patients are prone to developing kidney stones.
4. Fetuses with Mediterranean anemia are prone to jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and other symptoms.
Can Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women be cured
The main focus for Mediterranean anemia is prevention. Mild cases without symptoms do not require treatment, while severe cases require hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, patients can only rely on blood transfusions and long-term use of iron chelators to sustain life. Even with the use of iron chelators, as time goes on, more and more iron will accumulate in the liver, spleen, and other organs, leading to organ failure and death. However, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation also carries significant risks.
For pregnant women with severe Mediterranean anemia, special attention should be paid. If the examination confirms that the fetus has severe Mediterranean anemia, it is best to undergo an induced abortion and terminate the pregnancy. If the examination results show that the fetus's genes are normal or belong to mild Mediterranean anemia, then the pregnancy can be continued without worry.
Mild thalassemia does not require special treatment, while moderate and severe thalassemia can be treated with blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy. Rest and nutrition should be emphasized in daily life to actively prevent infections, and folic acid and vitamin E should be supplemented appropriately.
Now that we have learned about the best time for pregnant women to be tested for Mediterranean anemia, the symptoms of Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women, and whether Mediterranean anemia in pregnant women can be cured, we hope that couples planning to have a baby will pay attention to physical examinations and prevent the occurrence of this crisis.
