Alpha-thalassaemia trait as a cause of unexplained microcytosis in a South African population

BACKGROUND: Red cell microcytosis is a common abnormality detected in a full blood count, which often prompts clinicians to investigate further for a cause. In the absence of iron deficiency and anaemia of chronic disease, the differential diagnosis includes β-thalassaemia trait and α-thalassaemia trait. METHODS: We investigated the contribution of α-thalassaemia trait in South African subjects with unexplained microcytosis. Iron studies, haemoglobin subfractionation and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for α-globin gene deletions were performed on 97 controls and 86 patients. RESULTS: After excluding iron deficiency, anaemia of chronic disease and β-thalassaemia trait, 78.0% of subjects with unexplained microcytosis were confirmed on PCR analysis to have α-thalassaemia trait. CONCLUSION: Alpha-thalassaemia trait accounts for the majority of unexplained microcytosis.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Loonat,S B, Naran,N H, Thein,S L, Alli,N A
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	South African Medical Association 2016
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0256-95742016000300021
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