HEREDITARY DISORDERS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Hereditary diseases and congenital malformations have been reported to affect 2-5% of all live births. Available evidence suggests that gene tic disorders are equally important also in countries of the Eastern M editerranean Region. Considerable achievements have been made over the last two decades in controlling communicable diseases in the region. Concurrently, there has been a mounting awareness of the increasing im portance of hereditary disorders. certain genetically determined disea ses such as the haemoglobinopathies and enzymopathies are extremely co mmon in the region and the need to initiate public health measures for their control is increasingly being recognized. The following factors may contribute to the elevated prevalence of genetically determined d isorders: the high consanguinity rates; the high frequency of haemoglo binopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; the tren d of continuing to bear children up to menopause; the general lack of public awareness about genetic diseases; and the dearth of genetic ser vices in the region. These and some other related issues are discussed in detail in this review article.