alpha thalassemia

I am a 30-year-old Cypriot woman and as a child I was diagnosed with ALPHA THALASSEMIA TRAIT ( I got it from my mother's side of the family ). I constantly feel tired and weak and I often get painful cracks on the sides of the mouth ( angular cheilitis ). Sometimes I haven't got the energy to get up and go to work. My blood test results showed I've got iron deficiency but I've ben told that sometimes it can be can be confused with thalassemia. I have been taking iron tablets on and off for about 3 years now but they don't seem to make me feel any better. My question is : if thalassemia and NOT iron deficiency is to be blamed for my symptons, what can I do to beat the tiredness and weakness ? Also : can I become an organ donor ?

[Lisa Kessler, MS, CGC]

It sounds like you have a lot going on.  As you know, Alpha thalassemia is found most commonly in individuals with an ethnic background of Southeast Asia, Southern China, the Middle East, India, Africa and the Mediterranean.  Also, as you have mentioned, alpha thalassemia trait is often confused with iron deficiency anemia and iron supplements are incorrectly prescribed which have no effect on the anemia.

In general, individuals with alpha thalassemia trait have a mild chronic anemia and smaller red blood cells but many do not experience symptoms.  Diagnosis of alpha thalassemia trait is usually by exclusion of other causes of microcytic anemia. It may help to meet with a physician with an expertise in thalassemia to help definitively determine the cause of your symptoms.  It is possible to have both iron deficiency and thalassemia which can complicate the diagnosis.  After the cause for your symptoms is established, a doctor can discuss treatments for you and whether or not organ donation is possible.  I am sorry that I cannot fully answer your questions.  The website for the Cooley's Anemia Foundation is another source of information about alpha thalassemia trait including a physician finder tool.