Clinical Severity of β-Thalassemia Pediatric Patients in Myanmar
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03630269
eISSN
1532432X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85135911757
Pubmed ID
35950588
Journal Title
Hemoglobin
Volume
46
Issue
1
Start Page
66
End Page
70
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Hemoglobin Vol.46 No.1 (2022) , 66-70
Suggested Citation
Khaing A.A., Myint P.P., Paiboonsukwong K., Win N., Fucharoen S., Sripichai O. Clinical Severity of β-Thalassemia Pediatric Patients in Myanmar. Hemoglobin Vol.46 No.1 (2022) , 66-70. 70. doi:10.1080/03630269.2022.2025825 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83888
Title
Clinical Severity of β-Thalassemia Pediatric Patients in Myanmar
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is highly prevalent in Myanmar, but limited data are available on the molecular basis and the clinical manifestations in Myanmar patients. In this study, we investigated the clinical features and β-globin gene abnormalities in 15 homozygous β-thal and 60 Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A)/β-thal pediatric patients who attended Yangon Children Hospital, the biggest thalassemia day care unit center in Myanmar. Eight different β0-thal mutations were identified, with four accounting for 88.9% of alleles studied (excluding the Hb E variant). A genotype-phenotype correlation was found; all homozygous β0-thalassemias had severe clinical courses, whereas the highly variable disease severity was demonstrated among Hb E/β0-thal patients. Interactions of IVS-I-1 (G>T) (HBB: c0.92+1G>T) β0-thal with Hb E are associated with milder clinical symptoms. The number of mildly affected Hb E/β-thal patients was lower than expected, suggesting that there may be a considerable number of patients in the population who have either not been admitted to hospital or diagnosed with carrying the disease. Although the clinical severity in the Myanmar β-thal patients seems to be similar to that in other populations, the levels of hemoglobin (Hb) appears to be very low. These findings indicate the need for the improvement of patient management and the development of prevention and control programs for β-thal in Myanmar.