DNA damage: beta zero versus beta plus thalassemia

Beta thalassemia results in an increase in the alpha to non-alpha chain ratio. The unpaired alpha chains precipitate in the form of Heinz bodies. Regular transfusions leading to iron overload and the release of iron from the unpaired alpha chains in RBCs are the major cause of cellular damage in beta thalassemics. The use of iron chelators to counter the iron overload is accompanied by side-effects. The present work demonstrates a correlation between beta globin gene mutation and oxidative stress in beta thalassemia patients of the Gwalior Chambal region of central India. While Heinz bodies and nucleated RBCs were seen in all the patients, oxidation of…