Left: Hand of a person with severe anemia. Right: Hand of a person without anemia. * Iron overload: People with<unk>  can get an overload of iron in their bodies, either from the disease itself or from frequent blood transfusions. Too much iron can result in damage to the heart, liver, and endocrine system, which includes glands that produce hormones that regulate processes throughout the body. The damage is characterized by excessive deposits of iron. Without adequate iron chelation therapy, almost all patients with beta-thalassemia accumulate potentially fatal iron levels. * Infection: People with<unk>  have an increased risk of infection. This is especially true if the spleen has been removed. * Bone deformities:<unk>  can make the bone marrow expand, which causes bones to widen. This can result in abnormal bone structure, especially in the face and skull. Bone marrow expansion also makes bones thin and brittle, increasing the risk of broken bones. * Enlarged spleen: The spleen aids in fighting infection and filters unwanted material, such as old or damaged blood cells.<unk>  is often accompanied by the destruction of a large number of red blood cells and the task of removing these cells causes the spleen to enlarge. Splenomegaly can make anemia worse, and it can reduce the life of transfused red blood cells. Severe enlargement of the spleen may necessitate its removal. * Slowed growth rates: anemia can cause the growth of a child to slow down. Puberty may also be delayed in children with<unk> . * Heart problems: Diseases, such as congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms, may be associated with severe<unk> .
Thalassemia
Beta thalassemia
Alpha-thalassemia
Hemoglobinemia
Delta-beta thalassemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
Sideroblastic anemia
Diamond–Blackfan anemia