الفهرس 
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Abstract
Beta-thalassemia is the most common chronic hemolytic anemia in Egypt and represents a major public health problem. The carrier rate varies between 5.3-9%; it is estimated that there are 1000/1.5 million per year live births born with β-thalassemia (El Beshlawy and Youssry, 2009).
In spite of optimal treatment being available, only few patients can afford it. Unfortunately, most patients suffer from complications of blood transfusions, mainly transfusion transmitted viral infections and iron overload. Prevention by carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis is needed in populations with high incidence of the disease, such as Egypt (Novelletto et al., 1990).
The present study aimed to identify β-thalassemia carriers among close relatives of patients from areas other than Dakahliya attending to Mansoura University Children Hospital. This is a part of a project as a step in establishing data base for screening of carriers of β-thalassemia major children and so prevention and control of β-thalassemia major.
The finding of this study could be summarized as follow:
The current study detected 79/300 (26.3%) β-thalassemia carriers of close relatives of β-thalassemia major children, detected cases were 26/300 (8.7%), IDA was 8 (2.7%), unexplained microcytic hypochromic anemia was 25/300 (8.3%) and 162/300 (54%) for normal subjects. There was a significant decrease in Hb, MCH and MCV levels in both carriers and cases of β-thalassemia compared to non β-thalassemia non IDA group