THALASSEMIA AND HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE, CENTRAL VIETNAM

A community-based assessment of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies was conducted at the Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam. By cluster sampling, a total of 410 pregnant women attending the antenatal care service at 30 commune health centers were recruited consecutively from September 2011 to June 2012. Hemoglobin (Hb) analysis was performed using an automated Hb analyzer. alpha-Thalassemia (alpha-thal) genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques. Out of the 410 pregnant women, 2.7% carried alpha(0)-thal and 1.2% were beta-thal carriers. One woman with the --(THAI) deletion was also found. Among the females under survey, structural Hb variants with 3.2% Hb E [beta 26(B8)Glu -> Lys, GAG>AAG; HBB: c.78G>C] and 3.7% Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS; alpha 142, Term -> Gln, TAA>CAA (alpha 2); HBA2: c.427T>C] were found. Assessing the frequency of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies by ethnicity, Kinh (Vietnamese) and ethnic minority groups, Hb CS with a high frequency of 24.0% was observed in the ethnic minority groups. These results provide basic population-based information, are useful not only for implementing measures for prevention and control of thalassemias in the region but also for studying the importance of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies in ethnic minorities within Southeast Asia.