Thalassaemia. Coloured hand X-ray of a patient with thalassaemia, also known as Cooley's anaemia. The bones of the hand show demineralization (lighter patches). This inherited disorder results from an abnormality in the protein part of the haemoglobin molecule of red blood cells (erythrocytes). The patient's erythrocytes are therefore fragile, rapidly haemolysing (breaking up) as they move through the body. Other symptoms of this disease include anaemia, fatigue and jaundice. Treatment with blood transfusions is common, but this disease is usually fatal.