A case of beta-thalassaemia major resistant to standard treatment

Nicoletta Masera, Valentina Decimi, Luisa Tavecchia, Marietta Capra, Giovanni Cazzaniga, Andrea Biondi, Giuseppe Masera

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7175/cmi.v4i2.531

Abstract

We report the case of a 22-year-old woman from Albania, with thalassaemia major, in severe clinical condition who could no longer be transfused due to the occurrence of severe, acute, post-transfusional reactions. After 10 years of treatment, she failed to respond to hydroxyurea. When she received thalidomide, haemoglobin levels increased from 3.7 g/dl to 9 g/dl. Since then, at 22 months of follow-up, the therapy is still effective and well tolerated. The case gives the opportunity to describe the clinical use of thalidomide, and its potential in the management of beta-thalassaemia.

Keywords

Thalassaemia; Thalidomide; Foetal haemoglobin

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