Β-thalassemia minor, carbohydrate malabsorption and histamine intolerance. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schnedl, Wolfgang J.; Schenk, Michael; Lackner, Sonja; Holasek, Sandra J.; Mangge, Harald
• Is Part Of: Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives. Volume 7:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: β-thalassemia minor -- lactose intolerance -- fructose malabsorption -- histamine intolerance -- nonspecific abdominal complaints -- diet; Internal medicine -- Periodicals; Hospitals -- Periodicals; Hospitals, Community; Internal Medicine; Hospitals; Internal medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1080/20009666.2017.1369378
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-9666

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : β-thalassemia minor is characterized by reduced β-haemoglobin chain synthesis and sometimes mild anaemia, although carriers of β-thalassemia minorare usually clinically asymptomatic.Nonspecific abdominal complaints may be caused by gastrointestinal carbohydrate malabsorption (lactose and fructose) and/or malabsorption of biogenic amines (histamine), or proteins (gluten). Objectives : We report on two patients with β-thalassemia minor suffering nonspecific abdominal symptoms due to a carbohydrate and histamine malabsorption. Design/methods : The diagnosis of β-thalassemia minorwas done with peripheral blood smear and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Carbohydrate malabsorption was diagnosed with hydrogen breath tests and, histamine intolerance (HIT) with a serum diamine oxidase value <10 U/ml and more than two gastrointestinal symptoms described for HIT. Conclusion : The symptoms of gastrointestinal malabsorption in these two patients with β-thalassemia minor were treated successfully with an individually-tailored diet free of symptom causing carbohydrates and histamine.