One may hypothesize, however, that the increased resorption in thalassemia relates to a state of increased oxidative stress,(25) which has been shown to be present in these patients, and which can also result in increased TNF production and bone loss.(26,27) Because current chelation and transfusion regimens have remained largely unchanged in this cohort over the last 20 yr, it seems that current thalassemia therapies do not prevent or retard the development of low bone mass. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is thalassemia.