%0 Journal Article %T Microcytic hypochromic anemia patients with thalassemia : Genotyping approach %A Rahim Fakher %J Indian Journal of Medical Sciences %D 2009 %I Medknow Publications %X Background: Microcytic hypochromic anemia is a common condition in clinical practice, and alpha-thalassemia has to be considered as a differential diagnosis. Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of ¦Á-gene, ¦Â-gene and hemoglobin variant numbers in subjects with microcytic hypochromic anemia. Setting And Designs: Population-based case-control study in the Iranian population. Materials And Methods: A total of 340 subjects from southwest part of Iran were studied in the Research Center of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies (RCTH), Iran. Genotyping for known a- and b-gene mutations was done with gap-PCR and ARMS. In cases of some rare mutations, the genotyping was done with the help of other techniques such as RFLP and ARMS-PCR. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS 11.5 and an independent-sample t test. Results: Out of the total 340 individuals, 325 individuals were evaluated to have microcytic hypochromic anemia based on initial hematological parameters such as MCV< 80 fl; MCH < 27 pg; the remaining 15 patients were diagnosed with no definite etiology. The overall frequency of -¦Á3.7 deletion in 325 individuals was 20.3%. The most frequent mutations were IVS II-I, CD 36/37 and IVS I-110 with frequencies of 6.31%, 5.27% and 1.64%, respectively. Only, there was a significant difference between beta-thalassemia trait and beta-thalassemia major with regard to MCV (P < 0.05) and MCH (P < 0.05) indices, and also MCH index between beta-thalassemia trait and Hb variants (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Molecular genotyping provides a rapid and reliable method for identification of common, rare and unknown a- and b-gene mutations, which help to diagnose unexplained microcytosis and thus prevent unnecessary iron supplementation. %K Alpha-gene deletions %K beta-gene mutations %K evaluation of anemia %K microcytic hypochromic anemia %U http://www.indianjmedsci.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5359;year=2009;volume=63;issue=3;spage=101;epage=108;aulast=Rahim