Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Secret of Transfusion-Dependent Anemia: How Does It Affect Life?
Transfusion-dependent anemia is a special form of anemia in which patients require continuous blood transfusions to maintain life. This condition is often caused by various diseases and is strongly associated with reduced survival rates. Regular blood transfusion can effectively reduce the symptoms of anemia and increase the number of functional red blood cells and hemoglobin in the body. Symptoms of this condition may vary depending on the severity of the anemia, with the most common symptom being a feeling of exhaustion.
Various diseases can cause transfusion-dependent anemia, among which myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and thalassemia are the most common.
Diagnosing transfusion-dependent anemia is often complex because there are many possible conditions that may cause the condition. A patient is considered transfusion dependent when he requires an average of more than two units of blood transfusion every 28 days for at least three months. In myelodysplastic disorders, patients are often diagnosed after symptoms of anemia develop, whereas the diagnosis of thalassemia is based on genetic mutations.
Symptoms and effects
When transfusion-dependent patients do not receive blood transfusions, anemia symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty breathing, dizziness and heart palpitations will appear. The severity of the condition directly affects the manifestation of symptoms. Although a blood transfusion can temporarily relieve these symptoms, its effect on overall oxygen-carrying capacity varies from person to person.
Causative factors
Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a hereditary disease caused by gene mutations, mainly divided into α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia. In the most severe form of alpha-thalassemia, Hemoglobin Barts hydrops fetalis, patients are severely anemic during fetal life and until treatment advances, surviving patients become transfusion dependent. Beta-thalassemia causes reduced production of functional hemoglobin and requires blood transfusions to maintain hemoglobin levels in the body.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Myelodysplastic disease is a type of disease caused by abnormalities in the bone marrow, which produce defective blood cells. In severe cases, continuous blood transfusions may be required. About 70% of patients with myelodysplastic disease will become transfusion dependent at some point.
Diagnosis process
Diagnosing transfusion-dependent anemia is similar to other types of anemia and relies primarily on a complete blood count. The number of red blood cell units required needs to be checked, and a patient is considered transfusion dependent if he requires more than two units of blood transfusion every 28 days. The diagnosis of beta-thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes is equally important and can help indicate transfusion dependence.
Treatment methods
The main method of treating transfusion-dependent anemia is red blood cell transfusion. Although blood transfusion cannot correct the underlying problem, it can improve the anemia condition.
Side effects
Side effects of blood transfusion include iron overload, allergic reactions, and infections caused by blood transfusion. Iron overload is the most common side effect because the human body is unable to remove excess iron from frequent blood transfusions, causing iron to accumulate in the blood. Iron overload can cause damage to vital organs such as the heart, liver, and endocrine glands.
In order to reduce iron overload, iron chelation therapy is often performed to help remove excess iron to avoid organ damage.
Prognosis and Challenges
Although the prognosis of transfusion-dependent anemia is poor, survival rates have improved with continued advances in iron chelation therapy. The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) is specifically used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Patients' scores are mainly classified based on the severity of the disease. The general survival range for the low-risk group is 3-8.8 years, while high-risk patients only have a survival rate of 0.8-1.6 years.
With the evolution of treatment technology, the survival rate of patients with transfusion-dependent anemia is gradually improving, but the psychological and economic burden on patients is still a challenge that must be faced. As the quality of life is gradually affected, there are still countless questions for us to ponder. How can we improve the quality of life of these patients in the future?
