Authors: Freya J. I Fowkes, Stephen J Allen, Angela Allen, Michael P Alpers, David J Weatherall, Karen P Day
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050056
Abstract Summary
Alpha-thalassaemia protects against severe malarial anaemia through a clever haematological advantage: children with this genetic trait have more red blood cells, each containing less haemoglobin. During malaria infection, when red cell counts drop dramatically, these children lose less total haemoglobin than those with normal blood profiles, requiring a 10% greater cell loss to reach dangerous anaemia levels.
Why Brain? 🧠
α-thalassaemia’s smaller red blood cells with more total cell count protect children from severe malarial anemia by losing less hemoglobin when parasite infection destroys red blood cells.
License: CC BY.
The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only. Courtesy of Midjourney.
