If you have beta thalassaemia major or a severe form of beta thalassaemia intermedia, you will need regular blood transfusions, probably every 2-4 weeks, to make sure you have enough haemoglobin. Blood transfusions can have side effects; the most serious is having too much iron in your body (iron overload). Too much iron can damage the organs of your body, including your heart and liver. You will need to take medicines called iron chelators to get rid of the excess iron. These bind to the iron and it's then removed from your body in your urine or faeces. If your spleen is enlarged, you may need to have surgery to remove it. This is because blood may collect here, meaning less haemoglobin is available for the rest of your body.
Attribution: BUPA