Thalassemia
Also known as: Thalassaemias, unspecified · Cooley's anemia · Mediterranean anemia
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In short
Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders in which the body produces fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen, leading to anemia. These disorders, which can be mild or severe, occur most frequently among people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian, and African descent. The most common severe type in the United States is Cooley's anemia, which usually appears during the first two years of life and can cause severe anemia, slowed growth, delayed puberty, and problems with the spleen, liver, heart, or bones. Diagnosis is made using blood tests, and treatments can include blood transfusions, therapy to remove excess iron, or bone marrow transplants in some severe cases.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders. If you have one, your body makes fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen to the body. That leads to anemia. Thalassemias occur most often among people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian, and African descent.
Thalassemias can be mild or severe. Some people have no symptoms or mild anemia. The most common severe type in the United States is called Cooley's anemia. It usually appears during the first two years of life. People with it may have severe anemia, slowed growth and delayed puberty, and problems with the spleen, liver, heart, or bones.
Doctors diagnose thalassemias using blood tests. Treatments include blood transfusions and treatment to remove excess iron from the body. If you have mild symptoms or no symptoms, you may not need treatment. In some severe cases, you may need a bone marrow transplant.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Next to it in ICD-10
- D39Tumour of uncertain behaviour of the female genital organs
- D45Polycythaemia vera
- D46Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- D57Sickle cell disease
- D61Aplastic anaemia
- D66Haemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency)
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Thalassemia?
D56 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Thalassemia?
3A50.Z: Thalassaemias, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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