A 32-year-old member asked:
Does alpha thalassemia causes leukemia?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Stephen Nogaanswered
Medical Oncology 36 years experience
No: There is no relationship between any form of thalasemia and leukemia.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Kwokanswered
Pediatrics 35 years experience
No: Alpha and beta thalassemia have not been reported to cause leukemia, which is cancer of the white blood cells. There is a study of beta thal. Major & intermedia patients in iran, where researchers found 5 leukemia cases in about 4, 600 patients. That is a higher rate of leukemia than in the general population there, but details were unavailable as to what other factors were present in the patients.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated May 12, 2018
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