Sophia Delicou: Recognizing Missed Clues and Advancing Early Clinical Suspicion of Adult Haemoglobinopathies
Sophia Delicou, Head of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Unit, Head of the Expertise Center of Hemoglobin Diseases and Their Complications at Hippokrateio General Hospital, shared on LinkedIn about a recent article she and her colleagues co-authored, published in European Journal of Haematology, adding:
”We are pleased to share our team’s latest publication in the European Journal of Haematology:
‘Delayed Diagnosis of Adult Haemoglobinopathies: An Exploratory Retrospective Study of Diagnostic Trajectories and a Preliminary Clinical Suspicion Framework’
This work highlights an important and often under-recognized clinical challenge: the delayed diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies in adulthood.
Patients are frequently misclassified as having iron deficiency anaemia, leading to inappropriate iron supplementation, prolonged diagnostic uncertainty, and delayed access to appropriate care and genetic counselling.
In our retrospective pilot study, key recurring features included persistent microcytosis, evidence of haemolysis, and lack of response to iron therapy.
We also propose a preliminary clinical suspicion framework, the Haemoglobinopathy Suspicion Score (HSS), as a hypothesis-generating tool requiring further validation.
The key message fully aligned with the mission of the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is clear: early clinical suspicion of haemoglobinopathies in adults is essential to reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes.
Congratulations to the entire multidisciplinary team for this important contribution.”
Title: Delayed Diagnosis of Adult Haemoglobinopathies: An Exploratory Retrospective Study of Diagnostic Trajectories and a Preliminary Clinical Suspicion Framework
Authors: Sophia Delicou, Aikaterini Poulaki, Iliana Mani, Christos Savvidis, Aikaterini Xydaki, Maria Moraki, Constantina Aggeli, Ioannis Ilias, John Koskinas
Stay updated on all scientific advances with Hemostasis Today.
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:28Daniel Pereira Monteiro: Why Is Beta Thalassaemia Major so Severe?
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:27Pradip Pawar: Cell and Gene Therapy – Transforming Medicine in the 21st Century
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:26Aviva Schwartz: How Can We Better Protect Patients After an Ischemic Stroke?
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:25Does Reversing Factor Xa Inhibitors Really Carry as Much Thrombotic Risk as We Think? – RPTH Journal
-
Jun 26, 2026, 18:25Akshat Jain: Novel Therapies in Childhood Blood and Cancer Disorders
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:57Abdul Muqtadir Abbasi: Anticoagulation in DVT Patients With Hidden Varices Requires Extreme Caution
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:42Anesa Mulabecirovic: Why Von Willebrand Disease Takes Years to Diagnose in Women
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:32Kaitlin Lichty: A New Identity Reflecting a Shared Legacy of Bleeding Disorders
-
Jun 26, 2026, 16:07Toong Youttananukorn: The WFH Registry Driving Better Care and Advocacy