title: Alpha-thalassemia genetic testing: an important anemia diagnostic tool in patients of African heritage.
abstract: Inherited alpha-thalassemia genotypes have been shown to have a rather high prevalence in some patient populations of African heritage. These genotypes lead to mild anemia with microcytic indices and a normal hemoglobin electrophoresis. In our outpatient department, we analyzed 54 consecutive patients of African descent with longstanding microcytic anemia, but no evidence of iron deficiency. We detected alpha-thalassemia gene deletions in 94 percent of these patients. Alpha-thalassemia genetic testing appears cost-effective in an otherwise unexplained, longstanding microcytic anemia in patients of African origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Gothic Park, 43 Woodland Street, Suite G-80, Hartford, CT 06105, USA. c_dasanu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Constantin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dasanu
mesh_terms: D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*