Abu Dhabi: Greater awareness and adherence to premarital screening standards in the UAE are the key to reducing the prevalence of thalassaemia, a blood disorder that affects more than 2,000 residents in the country.
But although premarital screenings have been mandatory in the UAE since 2008, these are often undertaken as a late formality so that there is little room to reduce the chance of a union that could produce unhealthy offspring, expert said in the capital today (December 22). They were speaking at a press conference held to announce the second session of the Sultan Bin Khalifa International Thalassaemia Award (SITA), which encourages research, excellence in medical care and awareness efforts.
“If two people are carriers of the gene defect responsible for thalassaemia, they do not show any symptoms, but they do risk passing on the genes to their offspring. Their children are therefore very likely to suffer from the disorder,” said Dr Asma Aloleya, consultant haematologist oncologist at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and president of the Emirates Society of Haematology.
“We can detect if people are carriers through premarital screenings. Unfortunately though, most couples come in for the screenings after all the wedding arrangements have been made and a day or two before the ceremony, simply because the certificate is needed to formalise the union. At this stage, the couple can only be counselled, but the union goes ahead,”
Experts therefore advised people undergo the screening well before finalising a union.
“A plan is also in the works by medical experts to encourage screening for schoolgoing children in the UAE. Through this, a simple blood test would reveal vital information about whether a child is a carrier, and the family could then take adequate measures when the child is of marriageable age,” Dr Asma said.
They also urged people pay attention to the family history of a possible partner, as this is one of the most important indicators of whether or not one is a carrier.
It is estimated that about seven per cent of the global population, or about 500,000 people, are carriers of genes that may cause haemoglobin disorders like thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia. Patients with thalassaemia, a blood disorder caused by variant and missing genes, produce less haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. As a result, they can end up with mild or severe anaemia without proper treatment, and can also suffer from associated iron overload, bone deformities, liver diseases and cardiovascular illnesses.
The disease is typically detected when a baby is six months to one year of age, and show symptoms like anaemia, growth retardation, jaundice and fatigue.
Patients require regular blood transfusions, and therapy to remove iron overloads. In severe cases and without proper treatment, thalassaemia can lead to early death.
In the UAE, patients are offered treatment free of charge at specialised centres.
