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Phenotypic expression and origin of the rare beta-thalassemia splice site mutation HBB:c.315 + 1G>T.
Hemoglobin
; 34(3): 322-6, 2010 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20524821
ABSTRACT
We present the hematological characteristics of five patients from Surinam and the bordering French Guyana, who are carriers of the rare beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) mutation HBB:c.315+1G>T. Analysis of the phenotype/genotype relationship shows that this allele is a beta(0)-thal variant and illustrates the modulating effect of the alpha-globin gene status on the beta-thal phenotype. The ethnic origin of the five probands, belonging to the so-called Bush Negroes Maroons of Surinam and French Guyana, strongly suggests that this beta-thal mutation has a West African origin and spread in this ethnic group because of a founder effect and/or genetic drift.