OBJECTIVE: To explore a rapid method for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type. METHODS: Seventy-six patients were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were diagnosed as alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type. PCR was compared with polyacrylamide gel electropheresis for detecting zeta-globin chain in 56 patients and the correspondance rate was 83.93%. Ten cases of prenatal diagnosis were performed by PCR, and the results showed that one was Hb bart's hydrop fetalis, four were carriers of alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type, and the others were normal fetalis or carrier of alpha-thalassemia-2. CONCLUSION: The PCR method is simple and accurate for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia of Southeast Asia type, and it provides a new approach to the prenatal diagnosis of alpha-thalassemia fetalis and the detection of alpha-globin gene cluster.
[A rapid method for diagnosing alpha-thalassemia-1 of Southeast Asia type] Publishing Authors By Initials
