Patienter med svær beta- thalassæmi producerer ikke nok hæmoglobin (det protein i røde blodlegemer, der transporterer ilt rundt i kroppen) og må derfor regelmæssigt have blodtransfusioner.
Patients suffering from beta thalassaemia major are unable to make enough haemoglobin (the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body), and they need regular blood transfusions.