title: [A rapid method for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore a rapid method for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one patients were diagnosed as alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type. PCR was compared with polyacrylamide gel electropheresis for detecting zeta-globin chain in 56 patients and the correspondance rate was 83.93%. Ten cases of prenatal diagnosis were performed by PCR, and the results showed that one was Hb bart's hydrop fetalis, four were carriers of alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type, and the others were normal fetalis or carrier of alpha-thalassemia-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCR method is simple and accurate for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia of Southeast Asia type, and it provides a new approach to the prenatal diagnosis of alpha-thalassemia fetalis and the detection of alpha-globin gene cluster.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanjing 530027.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D055543:zeta-Globins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D055543:zeta-Globins