Table 2.
Current indications for transfusion therapy in NTDT subtypes
| NTDT subtype | Indications for transfusion |
|---|---|
| HbH disease 11,94,95 | Infections exacerbating anaemia |
| Growth retardation | |
| HbE/β-thalassaemia 6 | |
| Mild | Generally none |
| Moderate | As per β-TI (see below) |
| Severe | Transfusions required for survival, as per β-thalassaemia major |
| β-TI 6,22 | Hb <5 g/dl |
| Failure to thrive secondary to anaemia | |
| Emergence of bone deformities | |
| Tendency to thrombosis | |
| Presence of leg ulcers | |
| Development of pulmonary hypertension | |
| Poor growth and development | |
| Splenic enlargement | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Infection | |
| Cardiovascular disease | |
HbH, haemoglobin H; NTDT, Non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia; β-TI, β-thalassaemia intermedia.