Seventy-two pregnant patients diagnosed of minor or intermediate beta thalassemia with mild anemia were randomly assigned to treatment group and control group. Patients in the treatment group were given 15 g of Colla corii asini in powder form daily for 4 weeks while the control group were observed and followed up in the same period without any treatments. Levels of hemoglobin(Hb), serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF) and three types of hemoglobin components [adult hemoglobin (HbA), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), minor adult hemoglobin (HbA2)] were measured before and after treatments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women diagnosed as thalassemia carriers by genetic test with clinical presentation of minor or intermediate β- thalassemia;
• patients with mild anemia (80 g/L≤ Hb<110 g/L) prior to study enrollment;
• singleton pregnancy;
• patients having not received blood transfusion or any forms of anti-anemia treatment in Western Medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine in the last 12 weeks;
• informed consent obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with severe thalassemia;
• patients with severe anemia (Hb<80 g/L) prior to study enrollment;
• twin or multiple pregnancies;
• patients with any of the following abnormalities: immunodeficiency, primary diseases involving cardiovascular system, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system and hematological system;
• allergic to two or more drugs;
• patients with mental illness or poor compliance to medical treatment;
• patients having received blood transfusion or any forms of anti-anemia treatment in Western medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine in the last 12 weeks;
• no informed consent obtained.