Research Information System
SAS Journal of Medicine, vol.2, no.1, pp.1-4, 2016 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
The aim of present study was to report the frequency of β-Thalassemia trait and other hemoglobinopathies in Kutahya province, which is located in the eastern part of Aegean Region in Turkey, as part of the premarital screening program. To determine the prevalence of carriers for β-thalassemia, we screened patients sent on suspicion thalassemia by doctors and the premarital couples in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Haemoglobin variant analysis was performed with highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The subjects with HbA2 >3.5 were accepted as β-thalassemia trait. In results a total of 14815 people were screened. The prevalence of patients with the β-thalassemia trait was 5.02% (744/14815). In conclusion such a high prevalence requires that screening efforts should be increased; the society should be educated and made aware of the matter. Major methods to be used to eradicate the disease are genetic consultation and prenatal diagnosis.