The following is an excerpt from the case study "It's All Greek to Me," where Dr. Williams is explaining Nikloleta's disease to
her parents: "You both have a much milder form of anemia. Unfortunately, Nikoleta's condition is more severe. Nikoleta has what is known as beta-thalassemia, which is also called Cooley's anemia ... there are two types of hemoglobin proteins involved in the process of carrying oxygen, alpha and beta. You need both of them in order to have properly working hemoglobin. Nikoleta's beta proteins don't function correctly." If it were possible to treat Nikoleta's anemia with a blood transfusion, what component of the blood would she most benefit from, and whom should the blood transfusion come from? Explain
Of the blood component that would benefit from transfusions is the beta globin protein. Blood transfusions would be from one of their relatives, as long as they are not diagnosed with this same health condition, that is, they are healthy.
Explanation:
Beta thalassemia is a type of hereditary thalassemia, characterized by a hematological disorder that reduces the production of healthy red blood cells and normal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein found in red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen to cells throughout the body. This protein has two parts: one is called alpha globin and the other beta globin. There are genes that control the way the body produces hemoglobin. When these genes are altered or missing, thalassemia occurs. The hemoglobin protein affected in beta thalassemia is beta globin.
In the case presented, when both genes are altered, the person has beta thalassemia intermedia or beta thalassemia major (also called Cooley's anemia).
<span>IT is possible to treat Nikoleta's anemia with a blood transfusion with the use of beta hemoglobin component of the blood from the parents that she would most benefit from, and whom should the blood transfusion come from.</span>
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