Characterization of the Molecular Spectrum of a-Thalassemia Mutations in the Western Province of Saudi Arabia and Recommendation for Premarital Screening

ABDULLA ALHARBY, M.D.**;, SAMY ATTALLAH, M.D.*,**;; WALAA AL QARNI, M.Sc.**, MARWA AL HADDAD, M.Sc.**;; AHMED ALHARBY, M.Sc.**, DUAA FILFILAN, M.Sc.**;; MOHAMED ALASMARY, M.D.**, ABDEL REHEEM BASONDOH, M.D.**;; IBRAHIM ALHARBI, M.D.**, HOSSAM MADANY, M.D.**;; EMAN ALHAZMY, M.D.**, ALIA ABOTALEB, M.D.**;

doi:10.21608/mjcu.2022.287298

Characterization of the Molecular Spectrum of a-Thalassemia Mutations in the Western Province of Saudi Arabia and Recommendation for Premarital Screening

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Departments of Clinical Pathology* and Hematology**, Faculty of Medicine, Mansura University* and King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia**

10.21608/mjcu.2022.287298

Abstract

Abstract Background: a-thalassemia trait is frequently encountered in Saudi Arabia with a large diversity and geographical variability in the underlying genotypes. Aim of Study: To characterize the molecular spectrum of a-thalassemia in the western province of Saudi Arabia in some Saudi patients suspected of a thalassemia carrier or diagnosed with Hb H disease to determine if there is the significance of premarital genetic testing for a thalassemia in a couple suspected with a thalassemia trait. Patients and Methods: This study included 39 patients, 34 patients with suspected a thalassemia trait and 5 patients diagnosed with Hb H disease. Results: Thirteen patients 33.3% are heterozygous for + thalassemia having the genotype --3.7/ and 14 patients 35.9% are homozygotes for 0 having the genotype -3.7/-a3.7 and, one patient with --MED /aa, one with --SEA /aa, and one PA-1 / and the 5 patients with HGB H disease 12.8%, one patient has a genotype of --SEA/-3.7, one with - -MED/-3.7 Mediterranean thalassemia ( --MED) with 3.7 kb heterozygous deletion, and 2 patients with genotype aPA-1 /aPA-1 Words: a thalassemia – Hb H disease – Saudi Arabia. mozygous mutation Poly A(A->G). There was one case with negative molecular screening for α-thalassemia. Conclusion: The -α3.7 was the most common mutation among patients with α-thalassemia forming 78.9% ofall deletions. The premarital genetic diagnosis of α-thalassemia is not recommended as -α3.7 deletion is not risk for hydrops fetalis but should be considered in families with a history of HGB H disease or hydrops fetalis.

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