The codons 8/9 (+G) mutation found for the first time in the Lebanese population.

Thalassemia is a common inherited disease in the Mediterranean region. We here report a mutation new to the Lebanese population: the insertion of a G nucleotide at codons 8/9 [(+G) AAG-TCT (Lys-Ser) --> AAG-G-TCT (beta0)] of the beta-globin gene in a thalassemic patient with a mild phenotype. We discuss the possible factors that play a role in alleviating the severity of the disease in this case.