[The prevalence of beta-thalassemia heterozygotes compound alpha-thalassemia in Guangdong district].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) heterozygotes compound alpha-thal in Guangdong area.


METHODS
alpha-thal 1 genes were amplified in 500 beta-thal carriers diagnosed by reverse dot blotting (RDB) using gap-PCR method, alpha-thal 2 genes were detected in 400 of the 500 beta-thal carriers using Southern blotting with alpha-globin DNA probe and restrict endonuclease zymogram analytical method.


RESULTS
Forty three alpha-thal-1(alpha alpha/- -SEA) cases were identified in the 500 beta-thal traits, and 26 alpha-thal 2 including 17 rightward deletion (alpha alpha/- alpha 3.7) and 9 leftward deletion(alpha alpha/-alpha 4.2) cases were identified in the 400 beta-thal traits.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of beta-thal heterozygote carrying alpha-thal-1 gene was 8.6% and that of beta-thal heterozygote carrying alpha-thal-2 gene was 6.5% (4.2% rightward deletion and 2.2% leftward deletion).
Han
J
J
Department of Medical Genetics, Sun Yatsen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089, China.
Zeng
R
R
Hu
B
B
D000328:Adult; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA