title: Molecular analysis of beta-thalassemia in South Vietnam.
abstract: The high prevalence of beta-thalassemia in Southeast Asia is a major public health problem. Development of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis programs is a priority. To provide the groundwork for such programs in South Vietnam, we determined the spectrum of beta-thalassemia mutations in 35 severely affected patients and their relatives. We identified six different beta-thalassemia alleles (five beta(0) and one beta(+) mutations), in addition to the common mutation at codon 26 (GAG --> AAG) responsible for Hb E. These data provide insights into the distribution of beta-thalassemia alleles in the Vietnamese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Pediatric Hospital No. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pissard
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacombe
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Truong
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005192:Family Health; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*