Haemoglobinopathies
What are Haemoglobinopathies?
- haemoglobinopathies are genetic, inherited blood disorders. Some of which can be severe eg Sickle Cell, Thalassaemia Zero
- Healthy Carrier States protect against Malaria
- There are more than 1,000 carrier states
- The vast majority are inherited recessively
- The quality or quantity of Haemoglobin is affected
Who is affected?
Haemoglobinopathies are found mainly but not exclusively in people whose ancestry is:
- African
- Caribbean
- Middle Eastern
- Northern Greeks (Cyprus)
- South Asian (Indian Pakistan and Bangladesh)
- South East Asian (China and Far East)
At least 1:1000 people of North European Ancestry have haemoglobinopathy.