Rozitah R, Nizam MZ, Nur Shafawati AR, Nor Atifah MA, Dewi M, Kannan TP, Ariffin N, Norsarwany M, Setianingsih I, Harahap A, Zilfalil BA
Correspondence: Dr B Alwi Zilfalil, zilfalil@kb.usm.my
ABSTRACT
Introduction Beta-thalassaemia major is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in severe microcytic, hypochromic, haemolytic anaemia among affected patients. Beta-thalassaemia has emerged as one of the most common public health problems in Malaysia, particularly among Malaysian Chinese and Malays. This study aimed to observe the spectrum of mutations found in Kelantan Malay beta-thalassaemia major patients who attended the Paediatrics Daycare Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia, the data of which was being used in establishing the prenatal diagnosis in this Human Genome Centre.
Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 35 Kelantan Malay beta-thalassaemia major patients. DNA was extracted from the blood collected from the patients and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Six restriction enzymes were used to digest the PCR products for the detection of mutations.
Results Five out of the six beta-globin gene defects were detected, namely, IVS-1 nt5 (G > C), IVS-1 nt1 (G > T), codon 26 (G > A), codon 41–42 (4 bp del) and codon 19 (A > G). The mutation which was not observed in this study was in codon 15 (G > A). The two most common mutations observed were codon 26 (G > A) and IVS-1 nt5 (G > C), which was detected in 26 and 17 patients, respectively. Two patients did not show any of the six mutations.
Conclusion Our results added to the existing data on the common beta-globin gene defects in Kelantan Malay beta-thalassaemia patients.
Keywords: beta thalassaemia, genetic disease, ß-globin gene, haemolytic anaemia, mutations, polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, thalassaemia
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(12): 1046-1049
