Abstract
The molecular basis of the thalassemias has been studied in many of the world's populations. Here we report the results of the first screening for mutations in Vietnam. Twenty-three unrelated patients, of which 17 have Hb E/β-thalassemia, were diagnosed and β-globin mutations were detected in all 46 chromosomes. Four previously reported South Asian mutations were found. The most common mutations were the nonsense in codon 17 (A→T) and the frameshift at codons 41/42 (-TTCT) (30 and 22%, respectively). The rare frameshift mutation at codon 95 (+A) was present in 9% of the 46 chromosomes studied, suggesting that it is indigenous to Vietnam. These results will serve as an initial database for DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia in Vietnam.