Frequency and molecular types of deletional α-thalassemia in Egypt

Abstract
The frequency of deletional α-thalassemia in the Egyptian population was estimated at 0.08 by DNA analysis of a newborn random sample. No α0 determinants were found. The most frequent α+ determinant was the −α3.7 type I in association with the medium allele at inter-zeta HVR. The −α4.2 and αααanti 3.7 arrangements were found at very low frequencies.