Why did the physician order the second set of labs to be fasting? ...

[jc611]

Why did the physician order the second set of labs to be fasting?

Question 2

Define +-thalassemia and explain how it is genetically transmitted. Describe the types of people most often affected.

[Sassygurl126]

Answer to Question 1

Random lab values for glucose are not a good diagnostic tool because of the carbohydrate intake that may have taken place prior to the test.

Answer to Question 2

One of several types of mutations in the  gene results in failure to produce normal amounts of -globin chains. The -thalassemias are divided into two types, a homozygous disease called thalassemia major, and a heterogeneous one, called thalassemia minor.

Heterozygous -thalassemia may be caused by inheritance of one thalassemia gene, either 1 or 0 . The other gene directing -chain production is normal and RBC survival is not shortened.

About 1 of African Americans are affected. It is common in individuals of Mediterranean and Arabic descent.