[Reproductive compensation in the mothers of patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia].

The results of examination of fertility of 74 females, residents of Kutcashen and Vartashen districts of Azerbaijan, are presented. The data obtained have shown an increased fertility in females with beta-thalassemia. The value for fertility of the total everborn for mothers with beta-thalassemia is 1.25. These findings indicate that there is some degree of reproductive compensation in families segregating for homozygous beta-thalassemia. The authors conclude that beta-thalassemia gene is maintained in this population at higher values (15,83%), due to the higher fertility of the heterozygous mothers.