Thalassemia among Chinese-Bostonians. Usefulness of the hemoglobin H preparation.

Microcytosis was noted in 14.7% of the complete blood cell count reports of Chinese subjects in a Boston Chinatown health center. One hundred forty-nine of these subjects' conditions were further evaluated by hemoglobin electrophoresis, Hb H inclusion bodies preparation, Hb A2 quantitation, and ferritin assay. Ninety-one cases of alpha-thalassemia-1 trait and 49 cases of beta-thalassemia trait were diagnosed. In this study population, the prevalence of thalassemia trait and of iron deficiency resulting in microcytosis was 13.8% and 3.4%, respectively. The Hb H preparation was found to be clinically useful and reliable for detecting alpha-thalassemia-1 trait in Chinese carriers, after the exclusion of iron deficiency and beta-thalassemia by routine studies.