Thalassemia in Asia 2021 Thalassemia in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Acknowledging and understanding the extent of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy issues in a country is crucial for the benefit of implementing a national preventive and control program to reduce its prevalence. In order to obtain reliable prevalence data, the gene frequencies of the thalassemias and other hemoglobinopathies should be investigated. Molecular studies on thalassemia have yet to be done for Brunei’s population. It was estimated that carriers of thalassemia or hemoglobinopathies in Brunei is approximately 5.0% or less of the overall population. There are about 200 current cases of thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies including adults and children reported across all four districts of Brunei. Blood parameter analysis, microscopy, hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are the most common methods of investigation in aiding diagnosis in the hospital laboratory. Genotyping analysis conducted in an overseas laboratory has been employed to confirm some diagnosis. Compiled data from 2009-2017 at the Hematology Laboratory of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Jalan Putera Al-Muhtadee Billah, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, showed that the most reported diagnoses are α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait, β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait, heterozygous Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A)/β-thal, β-thal major (β-TM) and β-thal intermedia (β-TI). The data reported indicate the importance of establishing a thalassemia registry with relevant data on patients and patient outcomes as a tool for monitoring and improving patient care.

Keywords:

• Brunei Darussalam
• genotyping
• hemoglobinopathies
• thalassemia

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Anne C. Cunningham (Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam) for help with securing local funding.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This Special Issue on Thalassemia in Asia 2021 was partially supported by Project KY202002008 from the Ministry of Science & Technology of the People’s Republic of China through the Asian Thalassemia Training Center (ATTC) at Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, PRC.