Thalassemia, one of the world’s most common genetic diseases,
affects red blood cell production, causing anemia. One group of
thalassemias is called non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia
(NTDT) syndromes, which predominantly affect people of South and
Southeast Asian, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern origin. People
who have NTDT are not symptomatic at birth, but symptoms begin
to appear as early as age 10 and become increasingly common as
people reach their 20s and 30s. Diagnosis of the disease can be
confirmed with blood tests and genetic testing. Patients with
NTDT can suffer debilitating health complications due to the
accumulation of excess iron in the gut. Below are some of the
most common complications of chronic iron overload in people
with NTDT syndromes.