CORD-BLOOD TRANSPLANTATION IN THALASSEMIA

Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies are prevalent in Thailand, Bone ma rrow transplantation can cure thalassemia, but less than 30% of the pa tients have an HLA-identical sibling. Cord blood is an alternative sou rce of stem cells for transplantation. By prenatal diagnosis, the fetu s can be diagnosed as having thalassemic disease, DNA typing for HLA w ill be performed, Cord blood can be collected for transplantation if t he fetus is not affected and is HLA-identical to the patient, We repor t a successful cord blood transplantation in a patient with beta-thala ssemia/hemoglobin E disease.