Thallasemia (Cooley's anemia) is another disease that is commonly called 
Mediteranean anemia, but is different from G6PD deficiency.
Thallasemia is caused by a defect in the gene coding for the beta chains 
of hemoglobin. If there is one defective gene, there is only minor 
anemia, and this is called Thallasemia minor. If there are two defective 
genes, no normal beta chains can be made. As soon as the baby with this 
Thallasemia major is born and starts to break down his blood cells with 
fetal hemoglobin (which contains no beta chains), he starts to become 
anemic.

G6PD is short for Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. This is an enzyme 
which stabilizes red blood cell membranes. Deficiency of this enzyme is 
a completely different disorder from Thallasemia, though it also is 
common in the mediteranean. Sorry if I confused anyone with my last post.

Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC NYC

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