Hemoglobinopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in hospital births in Bahrain.

In view of the high prevalence of clinical cases of sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin-H-disease and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the archipelago of the State of Bahrain, a cord blood screening study was undertaken over a 15 month period (October 1984 to December 1985) to determine the gene frequency of these diseases. All the state hospitals participated in this study and a total of 10,327 cord blood samples obtained from babies born to Bahraini parents were analyzed. These presented over 80% of all neonates born in the country during the study period. The phenotypes detected included: AF, AF-Barts, SFA and SFA-Barts. Homozygous sickle cell disease was detected in 2.1%, and in 11.2%, the sickle cell trait was present. The incidence of alpha-thalassemia gene based on elevated Bart's hemoglobin was 24.3% in these neonates. The incidence of G6PD-deficiency was as high as 20.9%. Availability of these statistics has enabled the authorities in the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Hereditary Anemia Society to plan a comprehensive health care program for patients with hereditary diseases and their families.