Thalassemia and Abnormal Hemoglobin in Nakhonpathom Regional Hospital

Abstract

A retrospective clinical and hematological study was carried out from records of 526 patients attending the thalassemia clinic, Nakornpathom Hospital during August 1999 - July 2000. Forty two percent was found to be thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin ; the remaining 58% had normal hemoglobin and anemia was due to other causes. Some of them were members of thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin families. Among the thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin group we found that 61.5% was heterozygous for either thalassemia or abnormal hemoglobin, 38.5% was thalassemia diseases. The clinical manifestations and hematological changes of these patients were similar to previous studies. ,

Among the pregnant women under 14 weeks gestational age, there were 8 thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin high risk couples. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in all of them. The result showed that one fetus had beta thalassemia Hb E, one hydrops fetalis was detected by ultrasonography, and three were heterozygous for either thalassemia or abnormaI'hemoglobin.

This study showed that Nakornpathom province had thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin problems the same as other part of the country. Thus it is important to study and design appropriate treatment with the development of strategy to prevent and control thalassemia in the province.