Clinical phenotypes and genotypes diagnosis of thalassemia in children.

Thalassemia is a relatively common hemolytic anemia in Southeast Asia. Alpha and beta thalassemia, hemoglobin (Hb) E, and Hb Constant Spring (CS) are prevalent in Thailand. Different gene combinations lead to over 60 thalassemic syndromes. One hundred and forty-nine thalassemia families were retrospectively studied. They were 4 homozygous beta-thalassemia (beta-thal/ beta-thal), 79 beta-thal/Hb E, 22 Hb H disease, 32 Hb with Hb CS, and 6 AE Bart's disease. The first clinical manifestation and hematologic data including hemoglobin electrophoresis were analysed. Most homozygous beta-thalassemia and beta-thal/Hb E presented with anemia (100% vs 81%), hepatomegaly (40% vs 21%), and splenomegaly (20% vs 27%). In Hb H disease and Hb H with Hb CS, the clinical findings were anemia (74% vs 79%), hepatomegaly (9% vs 8%), splenomegaly (9% vs 13%), jaundice (24% vs 13%), and fever (18% vs 25%). The 317 hematologic data and hemoglobin types of the patients, their parents and relative were also analyzed. These findings can be used as reference values for childhood thalassemia and heterozygous states.