title: Co-inheritance of sickle cell trait and thalassemia mutations in South central iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to determine the incidence of co-inheritance as well as interaction of sickle cell trait (SCT) and α(thal)/β(thal) mutations in south and south central of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques to confirm diagnosis of sickle cell trait. All subjects were screened for any α/β -thalassemia mutations using a gap-polymerase chain reaction and amplification refractory mutations system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed combination of sickle cell trait and β-globin mutation results in a severe clinical course of similar to sickle cell disease, while coinheritance of α-globin gene defects usually modulates the clinical course. A coexistence of sickle cell trait and α-globin gene mutation was the frequent genotype in overall samples (57. 5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sickle cell trait mainly co-inherits with α-globin gene mutation in the south and south central region of Iran. This combination modulates hematological indices and interferes with the SCT diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Genetic, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saleh-Gohari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi-Anaie
keywords: Iran; Sickle cell trait; α-thalassemia; β-thalassemia