Beta Thalassaemia Major:

It is congenital and familial blood disorder characterized by the production of diseased and defective red blood cells. These red blood cells has short half life and destroyed within 20 – 30 days ( Normal life span of red cells is 120 days). Commonest congenital blood disorder in Pakistan.

The patient’s life is depends on monthly blood transfusion, started from the age of 4 – 6 months and iron chelation therapy, started from the age of 2 – 3 yrs. Both of the treatment modalities are life long. Average life expectancy of these patients in Pakistan is about 10 – 12 yrs. Bone marrow transplant is the only curative treatment of this other wise fatal disorder.