Neonatal screening for hemoglobinopathies: results of a public health system in South Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in South Brazil.


METHODS
Samples of dried blood spots collected by heel prick in neonates were evaluated by isoeletric focusing and/or high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. All variants were characterized at the molecular level.


RESULTS
A total of 437,787 samples were evaluated. Among these, 6391 showed an abnormal hemoglobin pattern. These included 48 cases (0.01%) of sickle cell disorders (33 hemoglobin SS [Hb SS], 7 Hb SC, 7 Hb S/beta thalassemia, 1 Hb SD), 1 neonate who was homozygous for beta thalassemia, 6272 (1.4%) newborns who were heterozygous for Hb S, C, or D, and 71 (0.02%) neonates who were carriers for rare hemoglobin variants. Most of these rare variants were identified for the first time in Brazil.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparing these results with those obtained in other Brazilian regions, we observe a highly heterogeneous distribution. This knowledge is useful in healthcare planning and allocation of resources, as well as identifying at-risk couples, which will assist with disease prevention.
Wagner
Sandrine C
SC
Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
de Castro
Simone M
SM
Gonzalez
Tatiana P
TP
Santin
Ana Paula
AP
Zaleski
Carina F
CF
Azevedo
Laura A
LA
Dreau
Hélène
H
Henderson
Shirley
S
Old
John
J
Hutz
Mara H
MH
D001938:Brazil; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005843:Geography; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
D055544:beta-Globins