Prognosis of Thalassemia

A thalassemia-afflicted individual may have iron overload in the body, either due to the disease or by frequent blood transfusions. This may lead to adverse effects on the heart as well as the liver, also affecting the endocrine system that secretes hormones, which in turn regulate the various physiological processes.
Thalassemia may also lead to blood-borne infections like hepatitis, which is attributed to blood transfusions. This may lead to severe damage to the liver.
Thalassemia may lead to widening of bone marrow, leading to bone deformities, especially in the face and the skull. It also makes the bones narrow and brittle, making them susceptible to fractures, especially the spine.
Thalassemia may also lead to splenomegaly, which is referred to as enlargement of liver. As there is lack of red blood cells in the body, the spleen is exhausted from fighting infections and filtering unwanted materials, leading to its enlargement. This may also lead to reduce the life of the transfused blood.
Thalassemia also hinders normal growth and development in children. It also delays the attainment of puberty in teenagers.
Some of the cardiovascular afflictions associated with thalassemia are abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.