High frequency of deletional α‐thalassemia in β‐thalassemia trait: Implications for genetic counseling

Thalassemias are a group of genetic hemolytic disorders with varying phenotypes. In this study, the frequency of α globin gene deletions was studied in the β‐thalassemia trait, the mildest form of the disorder. Eleven out of 33 (33%) individuals were positive for α −3.7 kb deletions. None of the subjects was positive for the Southeast Asian deletion. Such a high frequency for α deletions has not been reported earlier in thalassemia minor. Hematological parameters are compared, and implications of this finding for genetic counseling are discussed. Am. J. Hematol. 76:297–299, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.