Prevalence and Hematological Parameters of Thalassemia in Tha Kradarn Subdistrict Chachoengsao Province, Thailand
Kamolthip Nillakupt MSc*, Oytip Nathalang PhD**, Pasra Arnutti MSc***, Sumalee Jindadamrongwech PhD ****, Tanit Boonsiri MSc *****, Suthee Panichkul MD, MSc******, Wirote Areekul MD *******
Affiliation : * Department of Biochemistry, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Department of Pathology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand **** Department of Pathology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ***** Department of Pediatrics, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ****** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand ******* Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the prevalence, molecular characteristics and hematological study of thalassemia in Tha Kradarn
Subdistrict Chachoengsao Province.
Material and Method: The present study population consisted of 266 participants from Moo 19 Baan Na-Ngam, Chachoengsao
Province, Thailand. After blood collection, all samples were screened for thalassemia by initial screening with the OF and
DCIP tests and additional testing by CBC, RBC indices, hemoglobin typing and determination of Hb A2 and Hb E. All common
α-thalassemia mutations were determined using the PCR with allele specific primers and Gap PCR for common deletions.
Results : The prevalence of α-thal 1, α-thal 2 and β-thal were found as 2.72%, 11.26% and 0.97%, respectively. Regarding
the abnormal hemoglobins, the prevalence of Hb E, Hb Constant Spring and Hb Pakse was 38.45%, 3.69% and 0.78%,
respectively. MCV and MCH were significantly different between β-thalassemia as well as α-thal 1 carriers and normal
subjects. In all α-thal 1 traits, it was found that the MCV and MCH were less than 75 fL and 25 pg, therefore, these parameters
can be used for α-thal 1 screening.
Conclusion : In the present study, the prevalence of thalassemia was similar to previous studies. Moreover, using the
combination of OF and DCIP tests compared with MCV, MCH and DCIP tests for the initial thalassemia screening, it was
found that the OF and DCIP tests gave more false positive results, which increased the need for further Hb typing. Hence, the
MCV and MCH combined with DCIP tests provide cost minimization and practical for a large population-based screening
program.
Keywords : Thalassemia, OF test, DCIP test, RBC indices, Hb typing, PCR for α-thalassemia
