Alpha thalassemia is a genetic disease characterized by insufficient expression or definite absence of the α-globin chain. Three large deletions (thal-1; 26.5 kb MedII, 20.5 and 17.4 MedI) two small (thal-2; 4.2 3.7 kb) have been in our country. In addition, different PolyA mutations (PA1: AATAAA>AATAAG PA2: AATAAA>AATGA) on α2-globin gene (αα/αPAα), 5nt deletion (αα/α5ntα), unstable Hb v...

A 19-year old Thai male presented to the hospital with fever, acute hemolysis, pallor and jaundice without hepatosplenomegaly. On admission his hematocrit was 17.4% and a blood smear showed moderate hypochromia with mild anisopoikilocytosis. Hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis revealed Hb A2ABart's Hb H with an abnormal band, which on PCR proved to be Hb Pyrgos (beta83, glycine --> aspartic acid). ...

OBJECTIVE Alpha-thalassemia is frequently encountered in eastern Saudi Arabia. We wanted to find out laboratory based incidence and laboratory features of Hemoglobin H disease in the Dammam region. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the results of Hemoglobin electrophoresis carried out during the last 5 years in our laboratory. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed on cellulose acetate, p...