title: Analysis of delta-globin gene alleles in the Sicilian population: identification of five new mutations.
abstract: Although delta-globin gene (HBD MIM#142000) mutations have no clinical implications, co-inheritance of beta- and delta-thalassemia may lead to misdiagnosis. Among 7,153 samples studied for beta-thalassemia, 205 samples with lower than expected HbA2 levels were selected for our analysis and 183 samples (2.5%) were positive for delta-globin gene mutations. Twelve different mutations were detected, and among these five have not been not previously described (HbA2-Catania HBD c.8A-->T, HbA2-Corleone HBD c.41C-->A, HbA2-Ventimiglia HBD c.212C-->G, HbA2-Montechiaro HBD c.260C-->A, and HbA2-Bagheria HBD c.422C-->T). This study suggests that delta-globin gene defects are very common in Sicily. Thus, these mutations need to be considered during beta-thalassemia screening to avoid false negative results in the detection of at-risk couples.
authors.affiliation: U.O. Ematologia II con Talassemia, Azienda Ospedaliera Vincenzo Cervello, via Trabucco 180, 90146, Palermo, Italy. giambic@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giambona
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Passarello
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Disma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renda
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teresi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anzà
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D012802:Sicily; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005914:Globins