title: β-Thalassaemia and its Co-existence with Haemoglobin E and Haemoglobin S in Upper Assam Region of North Eastern India: A Hospital Based Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β-Thalassaemias are common genetic disorders in the Indian subcontinent and its status has not been well studied in the Upper Assam region of North Eastern India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to show the prevalence of β- thalassaemias and its co-existence with Haemoglobin E and Haemoglobin S in the Upper Assam region of North Eastern India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1200 anaemic patients were investigated for β- thalassaemias. Complete Blood Count (CBC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were done for screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1200 patients screened, 5.83% β-thalassaemia trait, 2.33% compound Hb E/β-Thalassaemia, 1.33% β-thalassaemia major and 0.42% compound Hb S/β- thalassaemia were detected. A high incidence of thalassaemia is found among the people of Upper Assam region of North Eastern India.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The only way to prevent the disease is carrier detection and awareness among the people about it.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Anju Barhai
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Teli
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Rumi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deori
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, Department of Anatomy, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Sidhartha Protim
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Saikia
authors.affiliation: Junior Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Panyang
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College & Hospital , Dibrugarh, Assam, India .
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajkakati
keywords: Anaemia; Complete blood count; HPLC