title: Alpha-thalassemia among tribal populations of Eastern India.
abstract: Five hundred and thirteen unrelated subjects belonging to various tribes of West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in Eastern India, were screened for the presence of alpha-thalassemia (thal) gene deletion(s) as a possible cause of unexplained anemia (Hb < 11 g/dL and/or MCH <28 pg, MCV < 78 fL). As reported earlier, beta-globin gene mutant alleles were found with a frequency of up to 20% in some tribes. In the present study, alpha-globin gene deletion alleles were found in 18% of subjects from West Bengal, 3.9% from Arunachal Pradesh and 3.84% from Assam tribesmen. Coexistence of alpha- and beta-globin gene abnormalities was observed in up to 18% of some tribal groups. The high inbreeding rate and lack of appropriate medical care make these populations particularly vulnerable.
authors.affiliation: Thalassaemia Counselling Unit, Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, 99 Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata 700026, India. rinini1@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Rinini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Sila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.forename: Bani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: Madhusnata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Ajanta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haldar
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poddar
authors.forename: Bani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajra
authors.forename: Geeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: Sarthak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sengupta
mesh_terms: D003241:Consanguinity; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005914:Globins