Blood transfusion therapy for β-thalassemia major and hemoglobin E β-thalassemia: Adequacy, trends, and determinants in Sri Lanka.

Over 60% of regularly transfused patients with β-thalassemia have low pretransfusion hemoglobin levels despite receiving large transfusion volumes. Patients with hemoglobin E β-thalassemia are undertransfused and specific recommendations should be developed to guide transfusions in these patients.