[Epidemiologic research for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy traits in the territory of a local health unit in Liguria]

Abstract

The authors investigated the incidence of thalassemia traits and hemoglobinopathies in western Liguria, where up to 70% of people comes from other italian regions, particularly from the South. The authors screened 442 primary school pupils in Albenga and Andora (Savona). Laboratory investigations permitted to detect 19 thalassemia trait carrier subjects (4.30% of the total examined): 12 of them were diagnosed heterozygous for beta-thalassemia, 6 for alpha-thalassemia, and 1 for Hb S. Authors would underline that more than half of the screening positive subjects resulted carrier of beta-thalassemia or Hb S trait, both potentially able to give origin to severe diseases: homozygous beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and beta-thalassemia/Hb S double heterozygosity.