Regarding α-thalassemia, during HU therapy the children without α-thalassemia had elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, glucose, HDL-C and albumin levels, in addition to decreased MCHC and AST, as well as WBC, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and reticulocytes (p<0.05). Here, ALB is linked to thalassemia.