Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of haemoglobin (Hb), the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anaemia. Thalassemia occurs when there is a defect in a gene that helps to control the production of haemoglobin proteins. There are 2 types - Alpha (one muted gene) and Beta (two muted genes). In Beta Thalassemia, affected children have severe failure to thrive and shortened life expectancy. Untreated Thalassemia leads to heart failure and liver problems, and makes a person more likely to develop infections.
Treatment for Thalassemia often involves regular blood transfusions and foliate supplements. Doctors have reported children with Beta-Thalassemia Major were treated with umbilical cord blood cells. The 2-year probability of event-free survival was 79% in 44 thalassemia patients (median age 5 years; range, 1-20 years) given related cord blood transplant indicating cord blood as good treatment option for treatment of thalassemia.