From the Research
Individuals with beta thalassemia minor should undergo annual laboratory tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) with differential and a serum ferritin test, to monitor their condition and prevent potential complications. These tests are crucial in managing beta thalassemia minor, as they help distinguish the condition from iron deficiency anemia and prevent unnecessary iron supplementation, which could lead to iron overload 1. The annual CBC with differential should include hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and red cell distribution width (RDW) to monitor the patient's anemia and red blood cell characteristics. Additionally, the serum ferritin test will help assess the patient's iron status, as iron deficiency is a common co-existing condition in beta thalassemia minors, affecting approximately 29.67% of females and 3.38% of males 2. If symptoms change or worsen, a hemoglobin electrophoresis may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other hemoglobinopathies 3. Regular monitoring is essential, even for asymptomatic patients, as it provides important baseline information for future medical care and helps prevent potential complications, such as iron overload, which can occur due to efficient iron absorption in these patients 4. Key points to consider when monitoring beta thalassemia minor include:
- Annual CBC with differential to monitor anemia and red blood cell characteristics
- Annual serum ferritin test to assess iron status
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis if symptoms change or worsen
- Regular monitoring, even for asymptomatic patients, to prevent potential complications and provide baseline information for future medical care.