Does albinism have anything to do with blood type?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Albinism is not related to blood type; it is related to genetics. Albinism is a skin and appendage disorder caused by a deficiency or reduced function of tyrosinase. It is somewhat related to hereditary factors, and also to the lack or synthesis obstruction of melanin. If both parents pass the pathogenic gene they carry to their children, then the children may develop this type of albinism. Ocular albinism is usually an X-linked recessive genetic disorder, mainly transmitted from mothers carrying the albinism gene to their sons, leading to the onset of the disease. Albinism is not directly related to blood type. If albinism occurs, it is advisable to consult and treat at a hospital, and to take preventive measures against the disease before pregnancy.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
45sec home-news-image

Can albinism be detected during pregnancy?

Prenatal genetic testing during pregnancy can be used to diagnose albinism. The incidence of albinism is very low, making it a rare disease clinically, yet it is not included in routine prenatal screening programs. If there are family members with albinism, especially couples who have already had children with the condition, prenatal testing and genetic counseling are necessary. Prenatal genetic testing can identify the specific gene mutation sites within the family. Furthermore, it allows for the use of third-generation IVF techniques to select embryos without the paternal or maternal gene mutations, which can then be implanted in the mother's body to prevent the birth of another child with albinism.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
56sec home-news-image

Does albinism have anything to do with blood type?

Albinism is not related to blood type; it is related to genetics. Albinism is a skin and appendage disorder caused by a deficiency or reduced function of tyrosinase. It is somewhat related to hereditary factors, and also to the lack or synthesis obstruction of melanin. If both parents pass the pathogenic gene they carry to their children, then the children may develop this type of albinism. Ocular albinism is usually an X-linked recessive genetic disorder, mainly transmitted from mothers carrying the albinism gene to their sons, leading to the onset of the disease. Albinism is not directly related to blood type. If albinism occurs, it is advisable to consult and treat at a hospital, and to take preventive measures against the disease before pregnancy.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
1min 9sec home-news-image

If vitiligo is not treated, what are the consequences?

If albinism is not treated, it can have serious consequences. Primarily, albinism affects the pigmentation of hair and the retina at the back of the eye. Lack of pigment in the retina can lead to photophobia, and some individuals may experience nystagmus, with severe cases showing a significant decrease in vision. The vision of some individuals with albinism may range between 0.05 to 0.1, which has a significant impact on eyesight. If left untreated, albinism also greatly affects the skin. Individuals with albinism are sensitive to light and are prone to skin cancer under strong ultraviolet radiation. Moreover, some rare types of albinism can cause a decrease in platelet function, leading to a tendency to bleed at a certain age, as well as pulmonary fibrosis. Albinism is primarily a genetic condition caused by mutations and is linked to heredity. The main issue in albinism is a disruption in melanin formation, leading to reduced pigmentation.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What causes albinism in infants?

Albinism in infants is caused by a deficiency or dysfunction of tyrosinase, leading to a lack of melanin or a synthesis disorder in the skin and its appendages. This inherited form of albinism results in the retina lacking pigment, with the iris and pupils appearing pale pink, and sensitivity to light. The skin, mucous membranes, hair, and other body hair are white or yellowish-white. Albinism is a familial hereditary disease, inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, often occurring in populations with a high rate of consanguineous marriages. In the genetic pedigree of albinism, both parents carry the albinism gene; carriers themselves do not show symptoms but can pass the causative gene to their children, who then manifest the disease.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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How should pregnant women screen for albinism?

Prenatal screening for albinism primarily involves chromosomal testing during pregnancy. Albinism is a single-gene hereditary disease caused by a defect in a single gene. It mainly occurs in children of consanguineous marriages where both parents carry the albinism gene. This is not a routine prenatal screening; it is only conducted if there has been a case of albinism in the family. Fetal chromosomal examination generally takes place between the 16th to 24th weeks of pregnancy during amniocentesis, where fetal cells are collected to conduct genetic testing to determine if the fetus carries the albinism gene.