THE HISTORY OF BETA-THALASSEMIA IN TURKEY

The first two patients with beta-thalassemia major in Turkey, were reported in 1941. However, the importance of beta-thalassemia as a health problem was brought to the attention of physicians only after 1950. In Turkey, the clinical and hematological pictures of beta-thalassemia were found to be mostly heterogenous. Hematological data of patients with mild disease (beta-thalassemia intermedia) severe beta-thalassemia (beta-thalassemia major) and heterozygotes indicate that patients can be grouped according to the content of Hb F, Hb A2 and red cell indices.