Thalassemia: current approach to an old disease.

This article discusses the approach for recognition, diagnosis, and management of the thalassemias, and reviews new prospects of therapy, focusing mostly on the beta-thalassemias--the more severe and clinically important type, beta-thalassemia major is typically treated with regular transfusion and chelation therapy. New strategies for specific therapy including monitoring of iron induced organ damage, fetal hemoglobin augmentation as an alternative for transfusions, bone marrow transplantation offer hope for prevention of complications and better care of the beta-thalassemias.