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Family reflections: our experience with thalassemia

Pediatric Research volume 98, pages 743–744 (2025)Cite this article

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As is the case with most people with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), Kamila requires chronic transfusion therapy in order to compensate for her body’s inability to create hemoglobin at the necessary level. The transfusion requirements for a person with TDT can vary significantly; in Kamila’s case, she originally was transfused every 4 weeks, then every 3 weeks. She now receives transfusions every two weeks. The transfusion itself lasts between 5 and 7 h; in addition, we take Kamila in a couple of days before each transfusion, in order for her to get her type and screen.

Kamila is also required to undergo daily chelation therapy in order to help remove the excess iron that builds up as a result of chronic transfusions. Her current chelation regimen includes both deferiprone and deferasirox. Because deferiprone management requires lab work every week and because of the change in frequency of her transfusions, we now are at the hospital significantly more often than when we started.

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  1. National City, CA, USA

    Maria Saradpon

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  1. Maria Saradpon
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Correspondence to Maria Saradpon.

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Saradpon, M. Family reflections: our experience with thalassemia. Pediatr Res 98, 743–744 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03823-6

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