Prevalence of beta-thalassemia trait and abnormal hemoglobins in the province of Adıyaman, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders in Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the beta-thalassemia trait and abnormal hemoglobins in the province of Adıyaman in Turkey.


METHODS
The study included 3571 high school students of both sexes; aged 12-22 (mean 16.59 ± 1.34). After they received information about thalassemia, they were screened for beta-thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin using complete blood count (CBC) and quantification of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin was fractionated using HPLC.


RESULTS
The beta-thalassemia trait was found in 38 students (1.06%), and abnormal hemoglobin in seven students (0.20%). Of the latter, four carried HbD Los Angeles, two HbS, and one HbE-Saskatoon.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of the beta-thalassemia trait and abnormal hemoglobin in the province of Adıyaman is low, compared to the rest of Turkey. Our results seem to reflect the heterogeneity of beta-thalassemia in the province of Adıyaman and may be of value for genetic counseling and premarital screening.
Vocational School of Health Services, Adıyaman Univesity, Adıyaman, Turkey. agenc@adiyaman.edu.tr
Ahmet
A
Genc
Deniz
D
Tastemir Korkmaz
Meral
M
Urhan Kucuk
Eyup
E
Rencuzogullari
Selman
S
Atakur
Suleyman
S
Bayram
Muhittin
M
Onderci
Tuba
T
Koc
Sinan
S
Aslan
Abdullah
A
Mutalip
Muslum
M
Faruk
Yusuf
Y
Sevgiler
Aygul
A
Tuncdemir
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal