Thalassemia and G-6-PD deficiency in Chinese-Canadians: admission screening of a hospital population.

Admission screening was performed on 684 Chinese-Canadian patients for thalassemia, abnormal hemoglobins and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency. Thirty-six healthy Chinese adults were also studied. The incidence of beta-thalassemia minor (hemoglobin A(2) greater than 3.5%) was 3.8%. Presumptive alpha-thalassemia minor (demonstration of occasional red cells containing hemoglobin H inclusion bodies) was found in 6.7%. Two patients had findings consistent with alpha-beta-thalassemia. The incidence of G-6-PD deficiency (abnormal methemoglobin reduction test) in adult males was 4.7%. In a parallel study the incidence of hemoglobin Bart's in 310 Chinese newborns was 6.8%. Two mutant hemoglobins were found - hemoglobin E and hemoglobin J (Bangkok).