title: Hematologic features of alpha thalassemia carriers.
abstract: Alpha thalassemia (α-thal) is relatively common worldwide. Most carriers are defective in either one or two alpha globin genes out of four functional ones, with deletions being more common than point mutations. The hematologic features are very important for the selection of the appropriate molecular tests while determining the genotype. The aim of this study was to compare hematologic features of patients with various types of α globin mutations. Hematological indices including red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and percentage of Hemoglobin (HBA1, HBA2 and HBF) of seven-hundred and twenty two patients presenting ten different α-thal genotypes were considered. All patients showed reduced MCV and/or MCH values.Moreover, MCV and MCH were lower in patients with two functional alpha globin genes in comparison to patients with one mutated alpha globin gene (P value<0.001). In conclusion, MCV and MCH valuescan be helpful for the selection of the appropriate molecular tests to determine the genotype of alphathalassemia carriers.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center (CMBRC), Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. ; Genetic Laboratory of Amirkola Children Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akhavan-Niaki
authors.affiliation: Genetic Laboratory of Amirkola Children Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Youssefi Kamangari
authors.affiliation: Genetic Laboratory of Amirkola Children Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banihashemi
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center (CMBRC), Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kholghi Oskooei
authors.affiliation: Genetic Laboratory of Amirkola Children Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaddoni
authors.affiliation: Ayatollah Roohani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sedaghat
authors.affiliation: Ayatollah Roohani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vakili
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi Nesheli
authors.affiliation: Genetic Laboratory of Amirkola Children Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shabani
keywords: Alpha thalassemia; mean cell hemoglobin; mean cell volume; mutation