title: Screening of concurrent alpha-thalassaemia 1 in beta-thalassaemia carriers.
abstract: Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder and is a significant public health problem in Malaysia, with many not knowing they carry the gene for thalassaemia. The two major forms are alpha and beta thalassaemia. An individual can co-inherit both the alpha and beta thalassaemia genes. This study determined the frequency of concurrent carriers of alpha thalassaemia in 231 beta thalassaemia carriers. Gap-PCR was done on extracted DNA of the beta thalassaemia samples to check for alpha thalassaemia 1 molecular defect. Eight (3.5%) samples were found to have concurrently inherited the alpha thalassaemia 1 (- -SEA) deletion. The significant carrier rate for alpha thalassaemia 1 indicates the need for the implementation of DNA analysis to complement thalassaemia screening in high risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: J A M A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zubaidah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuldip
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004247:DNA