title: Prevalence and hematological characteristics of beta-thalassemia trait in Gaziantep urban area, Turkey.
abstract: Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders in the Mediterranean region and studies have shown that the prevalence of beta-thalassemia trait is high in the southern part of Turkey. Gaziantep is a city located near this region and, therefore, the authors investigated the prevalence and hematological characteristics of the beta-thalassemia traits in primary school students in Gaziantep. Sixty primary schools were selected from a list of all primary schools using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected by a face-to-face questionnaire. Osmotic fragility testing (OFT) using single-tube 0.36% NaCl solution was used for the screening of beta-thalassemia. Students who were positive in regard to OFT went through a series of testing, including a complete blood count, serum ferritin levels, serum iron, and hemoglobin electroforesis. Chi-square test was used in statistical analysis. Of the 2439 students enrolled to the study from the selected 60 classrooms, 1353 (55.5%) were male and 1086 (44.5%) were female. The OFT was positive in 115 (4.7%) of the participants. CEA and confirmatory HPLC results of the students who were positive OFT indicated that 70 (60.8%) had normal results, 33(28.7%) showed high HbA2 levels, 7 (6.1%) showed high HbA2 and HbF levels, 5(5.2%) showed high HbA2 and Fe-deficiency anemia, and none showed increased HbF levels. The overall prevalence of beta-thalassemia trait was 1.84%. No gender differentials and highest rates among the Kahramanmaras (3.5%) and Sanliurfa (1.7%) born students were the other significant findings of this study. Implementation of a routine carrier-screening program offering genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and selective termination of affected fetuses would be a wise approach to eliminate this disease from the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gurbak
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sivasli
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Ali Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ergin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D014504:Urban Health; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron