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Free Provider Webinar from the CDC
Guest Presenter: Janet L. Kwiatkowski, MD, MSCE, Director, Thalassemia Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Chair, Medical Advisory Board, Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
Moderator: Sujit Sheth, MD Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine
People with thalassemia, especially transfusion-dependent thalassemia, face substantial challenges in the successful management of their disorder. Serious complications can develop, affecting quality of life and life expectancy. While regular transfusion therapy improves anemia, it is linked to iron overload and other complications, including bloodborne infections, development of anti-RBC antibodies, and various transfusion reactions. People with thalassemia whose treatment does not require regular transfusion also may develop iron overload due to increased absorption of iron from the diet and iron accumulation from intermittent transfusions. A range of other complications can affect people with any form of thalassemia. Comprehensive care including close monitoring and treatment adjustments is required to optimize results. In this webinar, Dr. Kwiatkowski will provide an overview of current, recommended treatments for people with thalassemia, with an emphasis on transfusion-dependent thalassemia. She will discuss transfusion best practices, as well as monitoring and treatment of iron overload.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the target ranges for pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels.
2. Describe the use and potential limitations of ferritin, as well as liver and cardiac MRI, to monitor iron burden.
3. Identify two fundamentals of iron chelation therapy.
This webinar is free and open to public health professionals, clinicians, and researchers. Advance registration is required, and the number of attendees is limited.
