Open AccessA case of beta-thalassaemia major resistant to standard treatment
Author(s) -
Nicoletta Masera,
Valentina Decimi,
Luisa Tavecchia,
Marietta Capra,
Giovanni Cazzaniga,
Andrea Biondi,
Giuseppe Masera
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
clinical management issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2283-3137
pISSN - 1973-4832
DOI - 10.7175/cmi.v4i2.531
Subject(s) - medicine , thalidomide , pediatrics , beta (programming language) , computer science , multiple myeloma , programming language
We report the case of a 22-year-old woman from Albania, with thalassaemia major, in severe clinical condition who could no longer be transfused due to the occurrence of severe, acute, post-transfusional reactions. After 10 years of treatment, she failed to respond to hydroxyurea. When she received thalidomide, haemoglobin levels increased from 3.7 g/dl to 9 g/dl. Since then, at 22 months of follow-up, the therapy is still effective and well tolerated. The case gives the opportunity to describe the clinical use of thalidomide, and its potential in the management of beta-thalassaemia