Hendy, J2009-05-272009-05-271999-12-13Hendy J. Preventation of thalassemia in Australia. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 1999 ; 30 Suppl 2(): 94-6http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/35393The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.Screening for thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies in the major maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia has shown that 6% of the patient population carries a clinically significant genetic abnormality. The most common of these are beta-thalassemia (3%). HbS (1.8%), HbE (0.5%) and alpha0 thalassemia (0.4%). Approximately 60 prenatal diagnoses for the clinically significant combinations of these abnormal genes are performed annually in the 2 major centers of Melbourne and Sydney. The majority of these prenatal diagnoses are for beta-thalassemia major (65%). whilst 11% are for Bart's hydrops fetalis, 8% for HbE/beta-thalassemia. 6% for HbS/beta-thalassemia, 2% for sickle cell anemia and the remaining 8% for other combinations of thalassemia/hemoglobinopathies. Of the 178 patients with beta-thalassemia major, sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia in combination with HbE or HbS, only 5 are less than 5 years old, reflecting both the success of the screening program and the increasing acceptance by couples of 1st trimester prenatal diagnosis.engAustralia --epidemiologyFemaleGenetic ScreeningHemoglobin E --analysisHemoglobin, Sickle --analysisHemoglobinopathies --diagnosisHemoglobins, Abnormal --analysisHeterozygote DetectionHumansInfant, NewbornPolymerase Chain ReactionPregnancyPrenatal DiagnosisRisk FactorsThalassemia --diagnosisbeta-Thalassemia --diagnosisJournal Article