FREQUENCIES OF THALASSEMIA IN AMERICAN BLACKS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (6) , 981-986
Abstract
The frequency of thalassemia was determined in a group of 541 healthy adult black males. Individuals with decreased mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) values were elevated further with Hb analysis, Fe studies and globin chain synthesis. Of the males screened, 13.4% had MCH levels below 27.0 pg, while 1.4% had heterozygous .beta. thalassemia, 2.3% had Fe defiency, and 5.7% had globin synthesis findings compatible with the diagnosis of .alpha. thalassemia trait (.alpha. thalassemia-1). Thalassemia is probably 1 of the most frequent hematologically depictable abnormalities in American blacks.