title: An estimation of the incidence and demographic picture of the major hemoglobinopathies in Belgium (from a confidential inquiry).
abstract: An estimation of the incidence and demographic picture of the major hemoglobinopathies in Belgium has been approached through a confidential inquiry sent to 228 pediatric and adult hematological departments. Forty-two percent of responses showed that 417 patients are known in Belgium: 83% with sickle cell disease, 13% with beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) major, 2% with beta-thal intermedia, and 1% with Hb H disease. Twenty-five percent of the sickle cell disease patients and 54% of those suffering from a beta-thal major were older than 20 years. Three hospitals ensure the follow-up of 70% of the patients and are situated in Brussels, Belgium; a follow-up of less than 20 patients was reported at 21 centers. These results confirm that sickle cell disease is the major hemoglobinopathy in Belgium; it concerns mostly pediatricians but adult hematologists are also confronted with these pathologies. Therefore, it is necessary to implement integrated programs of prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles, Hopital Erasme, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gulbis
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferster
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vermylen
authors.forename: Marie-Françoise
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dresse
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanderfaeillie
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delannoy
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Labarque
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philippet
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kentos
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sztern
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deprijck
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vertongen
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male