Hematology (Dec 2022)

The -α3.7III subtype of α+-thalassemia was identified in China

  • Xiuqin Bao,
  • Jicheng Wang,
  • Danqing Qin,
  • Rui Zhang,
  • Cuize Yao,
  • Jie Liang,
  • Kailing Liang,
  • Li Du

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/16078454.2022.2101913
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 1
pp. 826 – 830

Abstract

Read online

Objective The 3.7 kb deletion (-α3.7) in the α-globin cluster, which characterizes α+-thalassemia, has been reported to have a carrier rate of 4.78% in southern China. Three -α3.7 subtypes have been identified worldwide. However, the -α3.7 III subtype has not previously been identified in China. Herein, we reported identification of the -α3.7 III subtype in a Chinese patient.Methods We used gap-PCR and a liquid chip system to detect α-thalassemia mutations. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification was performed to detect the large deletion. We finally used Sanger sequencing and single molecule real-time sequencing to characterize and confirm the genotype.Results The proband, characterized as -α3.7 III heterozygous, showed microcytosis and hypochromic red cells, with a mean corpuscular volume of 78 fL and mean corpuscular hemoglobin of 25.4 pg. The proband’s mutation was inherited from her father, who had normal blood parameters.Conclusion We first identified the -α3.7 III subtype in China. Consequently, all -α3.7 subtypes have now been identified in the Chinese population. Therefore, attention should be paid to -α3.7 III in clinical prenatal diagnosis, given that commonly used methods such as gap-PCR may lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

Keywords