Distribution and frequency of beta-thalassemia mutations in northwestern and central Greece.
OBJECTIVE
Beta-Thalassemia is a common autosomal recessive disorder resulting from over 200 different mutations of the beta-globin genes. The spectrum of beta-thalassemia mutations in Greece has been previously described in the population of the capital city of Athens, or in beta-thalassemia patients having transfusion therapy. The aim of the present study was to identify the distribution of the most common beta-thalassemia mutations in the population of northwestern and central Greece.


METHODS
The data for this study were derived from a total of 1,130 unrelated subjects including 46 beta-thalassemia major, three beta -thalassemia intermedia and 1,081 carriers identified in our antenatal screening program. beta-Thalassemia mutations were identified by ARMS, DGGE and Reverse Dot Blot.


RESULTS
The most common mutation, IVS-I-110, is followed, in order of frequency, by the mutations Cd-39, IVS-I-1, IVS-II-1, Cd-6, IVS-I-6, IVS-I-5, IVS-II-745, Cd-5 and 44 bp del. IVS-I-110 and Cd-39 frequencies are similar with those found in other Balkan countries. Significant differences in regional distribution were observed. The results showed a clear drift of the distribution of the most frequent IVS-I-110 mutation in the south-north (29.4, 40.0, 44.6 and 61.7%) and the east-west axis (31.8 and 44.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Population screening and prenatal diagnosis are significantly facilitated by these data. Furthermore, the detailed distribution tables of beta-thalassemia mutations are essential for counseling and extraction of genetic diversity estimates for population genetic studies in other inherited disorders.
Georgiou
I
I
Genetics Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Makis
A
A
Chaidos
A
A
Bouba
I
I
Hatzi
E
E
Kranas
V
V
Zilidis
C
C
Bourantas
K L
KL
D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D019371:Topography, Medical; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
D005914:Globins