Thalassemia Syndrome in Southern Taiwan a Study of Eighty Cases

Thalassemias are a group of genetically determined hemolytic anemia. During a period of 18½ years from 1960 to June 1978, 41 Patients of thalassemia were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital. The study also extended to their families resulting in a total of 80 cases of thalassemia. There was no sexual difference (P＞0.05): 42 males (52.5%) and 38 females (47.5%). Of these 80 cases, 10 cases (12.5%) were a-thalassemia; seven cases (8.8%) hemoglobin H disease, three cases (3.7%) α-thalassemia2, trait; the rest 70 cases (87.5%) were β-thalassemia, of which 32 cases (40.0%) were β-thalassemia major and 38 cases (47.5%) β-thalassemia minor. The purpose of this paper is to describe our studies including clinical manifestations, hematological data, X-ray changes of the skeletal system, genetic aspects and treatment.