title: Molecular characterization of beta-thalassemia in Pakistan.
abstract: Beta-thalassemia is one of the most common inherited hemoglobin disorders in Pakistan. The carrier frequency is estimated to be 5.4%. To determine the spectrum of beta-globin gene defects causing beta-thalassemia, we have analyzed a representative sample of 602 alleles from six ethnic groups in Pakistan; 99.2% alleles were characterized, while 0.8% remained unidentified. The spectrum of mutations is heterogeneous and we have found 19 different mutations in all ethnic groups. The four most common mutations, IVS-I-5 (G-->C) (37.7%), codons 8/9 (+G) (21.1%), the 619 bp deletion (12.4%), and IVS-I-1 (G-->T) (9.5%), account for 80.7% of the alleles. There are differences between the ethnic groups and also between provinces. In the four provinces of Pakistan, the IVS-I-5 (G-->C) mutation is more prevalent in Sindh and Balochistan, bordering India in the south and Iran in the southwest, while the codons 8/9 (+G) mutation is more common in the Punjab and the North West Frontier Province, bordering India in the northeast and Afghanistan, respectively. The 619 bp deletion is high (46%) in Gujratis and Memons residing in the Province of Sindh, neighboring the Indian Gujrat.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riazuddin
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005914:Globins