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What is transition dependence anemia? Let's delve deeper into this mysterious condition!
Transition-dependent anemia is a form of anemia that requires continuous blood transfusion and is characterized by continued transfusion requirements over time. The development of this condition is often associated with various diseases and is associated with decreased survival rates. Regular blood transfusions can reduce the symptoms of anemia by increasing the number of functional red blood cells. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, but the most common symptom is fatigue.
For patients with transitional dependence anemia, fatigue is often their main feeling, followed by symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness and palpitations.
There are many diseases that cause transition-dependent anemia, and the diseases named myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and thalassemia are the most well-known. In terms of diagnosis, it is relatively difficult to diagnose because a variety of diseases may cause transition-dependent anemia. Diagnostic criteria for transition-dependent anemia are usually the need for more than 2 units of blood transfusion every 28 days for at least three months.
Causes and symptoms
The main causes of transition-dependent anemia usually involve a variety of blood-related diseases. The most frequently mentioned are thalassemia and myelodysplastic disease.
Thalassemia
Severe types of thalassemia include alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia. The former will develop severe anemia in the fetal stage, and patients who survive after treatment may require continuous blood transfusions to maintain life. Beta thalassemia is caused by a characteristic gene mutation, which has a great impact on the patient's normal life.
Myelodysplastic
Myelodysplastic is a disease caused by defective blood cells produced by abnormal bone marrow. Severe cases may require continuous blood transfusions. Given that approximately 70% of myelodysplastic patients will become transition-dependent at some point, further diagnosis is particularly important.
Diagnosis of transition-dependent anemia
The diagnosis of transition-dependent anemia is complex because the underlying cause of this type of anemia is often caused by multiple diseases. Not only is there a lack of diagnostic modalities for anemia in general, but the main causes of transition-dependent anemia also need to be considered.
The even more challenging part is that many patients at risk of becoming dependent on anemia often don’t seek medical help until they develop symptoms of anemia.
Detection and Treatment
The main treatment for transition-dependent anemia is to maintain an appropriate amount of red blood cells through blood transfusion. Although this does not fundamentally solve the root cause of anemia, blood transfusions are crucial.
Side effects of blood transfusion
The side effects of frequent blood transfusions are quite obvious, especially iron overload, which can cause damage to the liver, heart and other vital organs. Each unit of blood contains approximately 200 to 250 mg of iron, so patients who are long-term transfusion dependent often face a gradual increase in iron stores. The damage caused includes cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis and even diabetes.
Treatment to reduce iron overload
In order to more effectively deal with the problem of iron overload, iron chelation therapy has become a common treatment measure. Depending on the specific conditions of the patient, different chelating agents will be chosen for treatment, such as deferoxamine and deferiprone. Although this type of treatment method can reduce the side effects caused by blood transfusion, it still needs to be considered based on the patient's own situation.
Alternative therapies and prognosis
Although effective symptomatic treatments exist, direct treatment of the cause of anemia is the most ideal option. For some patients, such as those with certain myelodysplastic disorders, using low-risk treatments or high-risk treatments may still be options to consider. With the advancement of medical technology, the survival rate of patients with transition-dependent anemia is gradually improving. Through regular examinations and appropriate treatment, the quality of life of patients has also been improved.
Have you ever considered the importance of help and support from the medical team to patients when diagnosing and treating transitional dependence anemia?
