Meet the editors

Prof. Marwa Zakaria is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Zagazig University, Egypt. She is an active member of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP), European Hematology Association (EHA), Histiocytosis Association of America (HAA), and Egyptian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (EPHOS). She has participated in several professional trainings and work-

shops as well as many international and national pediatric and hematology conferences. She received training from the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) and completed a post-graduate training program in pediatric nutrition at the School of Medicine, Boston University, USA. She also completed several preceptorships. She received an award from SIOP in 2018 and EHA-HOPE Cairo scholarships in 2017 and 2018. Prof. Zakaria has been a guest speaker at numerous pediatric oncology and hematology meetings. She has more than fifty publications to her credit, including books and book chapters. She is also a reviewer for several journals, an active member of the Sharkia Thalassemia Association, in Egypt, and a member of the Egyptian National Guidelines Committee (NEGC) for evidence-based clinical practice. Prof. Zakaria has served as co-investigator and sub-investigator in many hematology clinical trials.

Laila Sherief is a Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. She has more than fifty publications to her credit and is a peer reviewer for more than thirty-eight international journals. She is also an editorial board member for several other journals. Prof. Sherief maintains memberships in many professional societies, including the International Society of

Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the Egyptian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (EPHOS), and Egyptian societies of thalassemia. She is the president of the Sharkia Thalassemia Association, in Egypt, and a member of the Egyptian National Guidelines Committee (NEGC) for evidence-based clinical practice.

Tamer Hassan is a Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, at Zagazig University, Egypt. He is an active member of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP), European Hematology Association (EHA), Histiocytosis Association of America (HAA), and Egyptian Pediatric Hematology Oncology Society (EPHOS). He has been a guest speaker at numerous pediatric oncology and hematology

meetings. Prof. Hassan has more than fifty publications to his credit. He completed training in pediatric stem cell transplantation at Ulm University, Germany, as well as several preceptorships. He is co-editor of three books and author of six book chapters. He is also a journal reviewer and editor. Prof. Hassan has served as primary investigator in four clinical trials and sub-investigator in ten clinical trials.

Erhabor Osaro is a Professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science in the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. He received his Ph.D. in Immuno-Haematology from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria. He is an alumni of the University of Greenwich, UK, and Francis Tuttle College of Technology, USA. He is on the Science Council of the UK register

as a chartered scientist and an examiner (registration and specialist portfolio verifier) for the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), UK. He is a fellow of several renowned scientific bodies including the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS), the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (WAPCMLS). He is the chairman of the Blood Transfusion Faculty, WAPCMLS, and a member of the council of the BBTS. He has authored four books and six book chapters. He is the editor-in-chief of the Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science and an editorial board member and expert reviewer for several international journals. He has received several awards and honors, including the Margaret Kenwright Award from the British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS). He is the president of Nelon Medical Limited UK. His research interests include infectious diseases, transfusion medicine, laboratory haematology, and laboratory total quality management.

## Contents



Preface

Thalassemia syndromes are perhaps some of the least well-defined of the hereditary hemolytic diseases from the standpoint of genetic background, classification, basic biochemical abnormalities, and clinical and hematologic findings. It is hardly necessary to mention the difficulties encountered in fitting in the varied clinical pictures of thalassemia with the simple concept of heterozygosity or homozygosity for the responsible abnormal. The thalassemia group of diseases is caused by a series of multiple interrelated genetic defects, not necessarily closely linked, which in various combinations give rise to a graduated series of hematologic aberrations, starting with the mildest asymptomatic state, in which the diagnosis can often only be inferred, and ending with severe, chronic microcytic hypochromic hemolytic anemia referred to as Cooley's anemia. This book contains four sections: "Beta Thalasemia Overview", "Thalassemia Syndromes", "Treatment Modalities in Beta Thalassemia", "Blood and Blood Components Transfusion Modalities". It reviews some of the many problems related to this complex and interesting group of diseases. More careful genetic, hematologic, and biochemical studies are needed to complete our understanding of

**Marwa Zakaria, Laila Sherief and Tamer Hassan**

West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science,

Professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science,

Professor of Pediatric Hematology,

Usmau Danfodiyo University Sokoto,

Pediatric Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Blood Transfusion Faculty,

**Osaro Erhabor**

Wupa, Nigeria

Sokoto, Nigeria

this syndrome.
