Thalassemia (
British English:
thalassaemia), also called Mediterranean anemia, is a form of inherited
autosomal recessive blood disorder characterized by abnormal formation of
hemoglobin. The abnormal hemoglobin formed results in improper
oxygen transport and destruction of
red blood cells. Thalassemia is caused by variant or missing genes that affect how the body makes
hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. People with thalassemia make less hemoglobin and have fewer circulating red blood cells than normal, which results in mild or severe
microcytic anemia.