title: Genotype-phenotype diversity of beta-thalassemia in Malaysia: treatment options and emerging therapies.
abstract: The haemoglobinopathies and thalassemias represent the most common inherited monogenic disorders in the world. Beta-thalassaemia major is an ongoing public health problem in Malaysia. Prior to 2004, the country had no national policy for screening and registry for thalassemia. In the absence of a national audit, the true figure of the extent of thalassemia in the Malaysian population was largely presumptive from micro-mapping studies from various research workers in the country. The estimated carrier rate for beta-thalassemia in Malaysia is 3.5-4%. There were 4768 transfusion dependent thalassemia major patients as of May 2010 (Data from National Thalassemia Registry).
authors: Department of Pathology-Haematology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. elzageorge@hotmail.com
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: George
authors: T J A Mary
authors: TJ
authors: Ann
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D005838:Genotype; D008296:Malaysia; D010641:Phenotype; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*