B⁺-Thalassemia Trait: Hematologic and Hemoglobin Synthesis Studies

Abstract

In Thailand, two types of high 1% A₂-B-thalassemia genes: β^O-thalassemia (β^O-thal) or classical β-thalnssemia and β⁺-thalassemia (β⁺-thal) or mild 6-thalasseinin exist. This study presents hematologic data and globin chain synthesis in peripheral blood of the genuine β⁺-thal hetcrozygotes in comparision with those of the β^O-thal heterozygotes. Thirty individuals of Thai and Chinese exctraction with the β⁺-thal heterozygosity were hematologically examined. The hematologic means of hemoglobin concentration, MLV, MCH, MCHC, 11h A₂ and alkali₃ denaturation hemoglobin of the β⁺-thal traits were, 11.7 g%, 67.8 u³, 21.5 γγ, 32.1%, 4.94% and 1.20% respectively. These were not statistically different from those of the β^O-thal traits of our previous study(1). The globin chin synthesis in reticulocytes were performed by incorporation of ³H-Leucine for 3 hours. The mean of total radioactivity α/β ratio in 11 normal controls was 1.07 ± SD 0.03 The mean of α/β ratio in 9 β⁺-thal traits was 2.03 ± SD 0.10 which was significantly different from that in 7 β^O-thal traits of 2.28 ± SD 0.07 Our globin chain synthesis thus appears to be helpful of discriminating the β⁺-thal trait from the β^O-thal trait.