Thalassemia among Chinese-Bostonians. Usefulness of the hemoglobin H preparation.
Microcytosis was noted in 14.7% of the complete blood cell count reports of Chinese subjects in a Boston Chinatown health center. One hundred forty-nine of these subjects' conditions were further evaluated by hemoglobin electrophoresis, Hb H inclusion bodies preparation, Hb A2 quantitation, and ferritin assay. Ninety-one cases of alpha-thalassemia-1 trait and 49 cases of beta-thalassemia trait were diagnosed. In this study population, the prevalence of thalassemia trait and of iron deficiency resulting in microcytosis was 13.8% and 3.4%, respectively. The Hb H preparation was found to be clinically useful and reliable for detecting alpha-thalassemia-1 trait in Chinese carriers, after the exclusion of iron deficiency and beta-thalassemia by routine studies.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D044466:Asian People; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006447:Hemoglobin H / Q000032:analysis*; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D006447:Hemoglobin H