title: The First Report of a 290-bp Deletion in β-Globin Gene in the South of Iran.
abstract: β-thalassemia is one of the most widespread disease in the world, including Iran. In this study, we reported, for the first time, a 290-bp β-globin gene deletion in the south of Iran.
  
  
  
  Four individuals from three unrelated families with Arabic ethnic background were studied in Khuzestan Province. Red blood cell indices and hemoglobin analysis were carried out according to the standard methods. Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood cells by salting out procedures. β-globin gene amplification, multiplex ligation-dependent probe ampliﬁcation (MLPA) and DNA sequencing were performed.
  
  
  
  The PCR followed by sequencing and MLPA test of the β-globin gene confirmed the presence of a 290-bp deletion in the heterozygous form, along with -88C>A mutation. All the individuals had elevated hemoglobin A2 and normal fetal hemoglobin levels.
  
  
  
  This mutation causes β0-thalassemia and can be highly useful for prenatal diagnosis in compound heterozygous condition with different β-globin gene mutations.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.|Narges Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory, No. 18, East Mihan Ave., Kianpars, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dawoody Nejad
authors.affiliation: Narges Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory, No. 18, East Mihan Ave., Kianpars, Ahvaz, Iran.|Dept. of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shariati
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galehdari
authors.affiliation: Narges Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory, No. 18, East Mihan Ave., Kianpars, Ahvaz, Iran.|Dept. of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alihossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saberi
authors.affiliation: Narges Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory, No. 18, East Mihan Ave., Kianpars, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Marziye
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi-Anaei
keywords: β-thalassemia; β-globin gene mutation; Iran; Multiplex ligation-dependent probe ampliﬁcation