title: Alpha thalassaemia in Sardinian newborns.
abstract: In this study we describe the correlation between the haematological parameters (red cell indices and Hb Bart's levels) and the alpha-globin genotype in Sardinian newborns. Increased Hb Bart's levels at birth always indicates alpha-thalassaemia, either of the deletion or non-deletion variety. Infants with two alpha-globin genes deleted (- alpha/- alpha and --/ alpha alpha genotypes) had microcytosis, low MCH and Hb Bart's in the 2.0-7.1% range. A minority (38.9%) of infants with the (- alpha/ alpha alpha) globin genotype had detectable Hb Bart's, in the 0.78-2.5% range, frequently associated with minimal microcytosis while the remainder (61.1%) were completely silent. Infants carriers of a non-deletion type of alpha-thalassaemia showed Hb Bart's levels within the range found in the (- alpha / alpha alpha) genotype. The association of heterozygous beta 0-thalassemia seems to have no effect on the expression of any of these alpha-thalassaemia lesions at birth.
mesh_terms: D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D005914:Globins; C030448:hemoglobin Bart's