Incidence of genetic disorders of haemoglobins in the hospital population of Bahrain

ABSTRACT

In a retrospective study, blood samples of 56198 Bahraini nationals received at the Pathology Department in Salmaniya Medical Centre over the six-year period 1982-1987 were analysed. Of the total, 5503 were neonatal samples and the rest non-neonatal. Amongst the latter, 68.82% showed abnormal haemoglobin, 56.56% showed sickle cell trait, 10.44% showed sickle cell disease and 1.82% showed other forms of abnormal haemoglobins including rarer ones. Amongst the neonatal samples, abnormal haemoglobin were detected in 44.35% 24.2% were alph-thalassaemia cases, 18.10% were sickle cell traits, and 2.1% were sickle cell disease. The highly variable concentration of the abnormal haemoglobin in both groups was also studied and analysed. Such high incidence of abnormal haemoglobin gene necessitates a prospective detailed study of the problem in general population followed by genetic counseling