Latest news with #SickleCellAnaemia
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
TSCS, Fernandez Hospital team up for prenatal testing
The Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) has partnered with Fernandez Hospital to launch prenatal diagnostic testing for couples identified as carriers of Thalassemia or Sickle Cell Anaemia. The testing will be offered at the Prenatal Diagnostic Centre at Kamala Hospital and Research Centre, a unit of TSCS in Hyderabad. This initiative is part of TSCS's broader goal to eliminate births of children with Thalassemia Major and Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2035. The society's ongoing antenatal screening programme identifies carrier couples early in pregnancy. If both partners are carriers, there is a 25% risk in each pregnancy that their child will be affected. The new facility will allow for early prenatal diagnostic testing in such cases, enabling timely decisions for at-risk families, said a release.
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Call for urgent need for genetic blood disorders awareness
Vijayawada: Minister for Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday stressed the critical need for increased public awareness regarding genetic blood disorders like Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Haemophilia. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day 'Orientation Training on Advanced Modalities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Blood Diseases' programme here on Monday, jointly organised by National Health Mission and Haemophilia Society, aims at equipping healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge in diagnosing and treating these conditions. The Minister highlighted the prevalence of these genetic disorders in the State, stating Andhra Pradesh has approximately 1,900 individuals suffering from Haemophilia, and roughly 2,100 people are battling Thalassemia, with a similar number affected by Sickle Cell Anaemia.' 'The State government is committed to identifying affected individuals and providing them with regular, free blood transfusions,' the Minister affirmed. He noted that five Integrated Centers for Hemoglobinopathy and Haemophilia (ICHH) across the State are already conducting preliminary diagnostic tests. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the government provides free treatment and medicines. Beyond medical treatment, the State government is also providing a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to those afflicted with Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, and Haemophilia. Satya Kumar Yadav also provided an update on the ongoing Sickle Cell Anaemia screening programme in tribal areas, targeting individuals under 40 years old. 'Out of 1.9 million people requiring screening in these areas, we have screened 1.05 million so far, and the process is continuing,' he stated. He revealed that over 19,000 carriers have been identified, and 2,100 individuals have been diagnosed with the disease. Following genetic screening for Sickle Cell Anaemia, identification cards are being issued to those diagnosed. Minister Yadav also shared that Bhuvaneswari, wife of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has undertaken a fundraising initiative in Vijayawada for Thalassemia patients. He mentioned the emergence of new technologies like gene editing, expressing confidence in the expertise of professors in government hospitals to provide high-quality services to economically disadvantaged patients. Dr Kameswara Prasad (APSACS APD in-charge), Dr Prasanna (Joint Director), Dr Devi (State Immunisation Officer), Dr NBSV Prasad (Secretary, Haemophilia Society Vijayawada Chapter), nodal officers for Sickle Cell Anaemia, nodal officers from the five ICHH centers, Dr Ramachandra Raju, Dr YD Ramarao, and other medical professionals also participated.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
BITS Pilani, Hyderabad develops plant-based cure for Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia
Hyderabad: Researchers at the BITS Pilani , Hyderabad, have developed a plant-based drug formulation that could offer more affordable treatment for iron overload, a condition common in patients with Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia . The new formulation, tested successfully on rats and mice, uses compounds found in plants to remove excess iron from the body and does so using a much lower dosage than the standard treatment available in the market today. Published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, the study explains how the team combined caffeic acid, a naturally occurring compound, with amino acids to create two formulations: Caffeic Acid–Spermine (CA-Sp) and Caffeic Acid–Histidine (CA-His). "When compared with the current drug in use, CA-Sp required just one-fifth of the dosage to remove excess iron," said department of biological sciences professor Jayati Ray Dutta. She worked on the project along with Ramakrishnan Ganesan from the department of chemistry. Researchers pointed out that even though the treatment duration was kept the same for comparison, the new drug showed better iron removal and lower toxicity. "We tested for liver inflammation and found that our drug performed better than the standard one," Dutta said. Apart from effectiveness, the formulation also scores high on affordability. "The current drug costs about 300 per dose. Our plant-based formulation could cut the cost by more than 50%," she added. The researchers used the natural iron-binding ability of polyphenols and paired them with compounds known as biogenic amines, which are commonly found in nature. "This is a step forward in developing green, affordable therapies for transfusion-dependent patients. It has the potential to transform iron overload treatment, not just in India but globally," said Ganesan. Iron overload is a growing concern in India, especially among patients with Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia who depend on frequent blood transfusions. Left untreated, excess iron can severely damage the liver, heart, and endocrine system, they added and pointed out that India is home to over 100,000 Thalassaemia patients, many of whom require perpetual iron chelation therapy (ICT) to manage iron toxicity.
