title: The molecular basis of beta-thalassemia in Lebanon: application to prenatal diagnosis.
abstract: A study of the molecular lesions of beta-thalassemia in Lebanon revealed the presence of eight different mutations in 25 patients with Cooley's anemia. The IVS1 position 110 mutation predominated with a frequency of 62% and was almost invariably associated with Mediterranean chromosome haplotype I. Five other mutations commonly found in the Mediterranean area occurred with frequencies of 2% to 8%. In addition a G----C substitution in IVS1 position 5 (a lesion previously found in Chinese and Asian Indians) was demonstrated in a patient with Mediterranean haplotype IX. A new mutation at codon 29 was found in two other patients with haplotype II. The characterization of these beta-thalassemia mutations should allow the implementation of a prenatal diagnosis program in that country.
mesh_terms: D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D005914:Globins