ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND : Faisalabad is the third biggest city of Pakistan. Majority of the population is Punjabi while other ethnic groups are in minority. AIMS : The present study was undertaken to find the mutations causing β -thalassemia in Faisalabad Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A total of 285 β -globin alleles from 143 unrelated families having at least one transfusion-dependent child were analyzed by using amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR). RESULTS : FSC-8/9 (+G) and IVS-I-5 (G ®C) were the most common mutations. The allele frequency for FSC-8/9 (+G) was 38.59% while frequency for IVS-I-5 (G ®C) was 37.89%. The high frequency (76.48%) of IVS-I-5 (G ®C) and FSC-8/9 (+G) on various alleles provides a strong evidence of intermarriages. CONCLUSIONS : By using ARMS-PCR, the mutations were successfully characterized in 95.79% of subjects, while 4.21% remain to be characterized. This study will facilitate the implementations of genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in the population of Faisalabad.