PREVALENCE OF THALASSEMIA GENES IN MOSUL

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of the thalassemia genes in Mosul city, a study was carried out on 375 persons randomly selected, from people attending three major hospitals in the city.A reduced mean cell volume (MCV) below 80 fl was used as screening test for thalassemia genes (e.g. hemoglobin, Hb. Electrophoresis, and finally blood Iron content).A total of 33 cases (8.8%) were found carrying thalassemia genes. From the above cases, 25 cases (6.7%) were beta-thalassemia trait 8 cases (2.1%) were alpha-thalassemia.