Prevention and control of thalassemia in Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand.
Eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-six pregnant women were screened for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies by mean corpuscular volume less than 80 femtolitres (fl). Three thousand six hundred and seventy women (42%) were MCV less than 80 fl. In this group there were 2,390 women (70%) who had positive Hb typing by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) such as beta-thalassemia major, beta-thalassemia hemoglobin E disease, beta-thalassemia trait, heterozygous and homozygous hemoglobin E, alpha-thalassemia-1 trait and hemoglobin H disease and 77% of their partners came and had hemoglobin typing done. Seventy-five couples at risk for having severely affected thalassemia fetuses were detected from this screening program. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 58 couples (77.3%). Eight affected fetuses were detected. All pregnancies with affected fetuses except one with beta-thalassemia/HbE were terminated. There were 3 fetal losses (6%) as the result of prenatal diagnosis procedure.
Jaovisidha
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ajjimarkorn
S
S
Panburana
P
P
Somboonsub
O
O
Herabutya
Y
Y
Rungsiprakarn
R
R
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*