Genetic Counselling in Anaemia & Thalassemia.

ABSTRACT

Objective: 1. To identify the common type of anaemia in our population and promote appropriate counselling for an effective plan of management & treatment. 2.To establish how thalassemia is diagnosed and assess type of counselling received among the thalassemic families and to provide appropriate Genetic Counselling. Method: Information was obtained from Anemic and Thalassemic patients to assess their awareness regarding their pathophysiology and assess what type of counselling they received, from different centres in Hyderabad, India. Result: It was found that after counselling, the patients and their attenders were more receptive to undergoing treatment for anaemia and genetic testing for thalassemia. Conclusion: Extended family screening, prenatal diagnosis and carrier testing should be explained and advised and the centres offering these tests should also be informed.