Pattern of hemoglobinopathies and thalassemia in Manipur, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are the commonest genetic disorders worldwide. Thalassemia Major, Thalassemia Intermedia and Sickle Cell Disease are the major disorders that require lifelong management and are to be considered for prevention. In India, Beta-Thalassemia is prevalent across the country, with an average frequency of carriers being 3-4%.Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted between June 2016 - May 2017 in the Department of Medicine, RIMS Imphal in 453 patients as a workup for anemia and clinically suspected cases of Hemoglobinopathy or beta thalassemia. Blood samples were collected and sent for Haemoglobin Electrophoresis using cellulose alkaline technique.Results: Among the 453 cases of the population surveyed, 35% showed the presence of abnormal hemoglobin. 16% were found to be beta thalassemia carrier, 11.69% HbE trait, 6.62% Homozygous HbE, 0.4% beta thalassemia and 0.7% had Hereditary persistence of HbF.Conclusions: High prevalence of Beta Thalassemia trait occurred more frequently than other Hemoglobinopathies. The study concludes that it is immensely important epidemiologically to explore the haemoglobin variants in Manipur so that the carriers can be detected for prevention of more serious disorder in the future generations.