title: Premarital screening test results for β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia trait in east Mediterranean region of Turkey.
abstract: Hemoglobinopathies are common diseases in Mediterranean region of Turkey. In this study, the results of a 3-year premarital screening program are reported in Kahramanmaras province, which is located in East Mediterranean region. A total of 48,126 persons were screened in this program. Hematological analyses and electrophoresis were done to identify carriers. The prevalence of β-thalassemia trait and of sickle cell anemia trait, which were 2.1% and 0.5% in Turkey, were found to be 2.8% and 0.4%, respectively, in our study. Of the carriers of the β-thalassemia trait, 82% had high hemoglobin A₂, 34% had high hemoglobin F, and 18% had both high hemoglobin F and hemoglobin A₂. β-Thalassemia trait in Kahramanmaras is slightly higher than the average rate in Turkey. However, sickle cell anemia trait is similar to Turkey's averages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. ekremguler@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guler
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garipardic
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalkiran
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davutoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011291:Premarital Examinations; D015995:Prevalence; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics