Thalassemia trait in outpatient clinics of Sana'a City, Yemen.
Blood samples were collected from 699 patients attending out patient clinics in Sana'a City, Yemen, to obtain some idea of the prevalence of the thalassemias in our country. Complete blood count, hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis, quantitation of Hb A(2) and Hb F, and serum ferritin were determined. Microcytic, hypochromic red cells were found in 103 subjects (14.7%). Iron deficiency alone accounted for only a small proportion of these (n = 12), whereas features suggestive of beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) were present in 31 patients (4.43%) and features suggestive of alpha-thal trait were found in 60 patients (8.6%). The study showed that thalassemia probably accounts for most red cell microcytosis in these out patient clinics, and could represent a significant health problem through births of homozygotes and compound heterozygotes with severe disorders. This pilot study should be repeated with improved technology, and extended to include globin gene analysis to define the nature of the disorders that remain poorly diagnosed.
Al-Nood
Hafiz
H
Department of Haematology, Sana'a University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a, Yemen. hafizalnood@yahoo.co.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006443:Hemoglobin A2 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
D005293:Ferritins; D006443:Hemoglobin A2; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin