Hematological and molecular analysis of beta-thalassemia and Hb Lepore in Campania, Italy

This epidemiological study was based on a hematological and a molecular ana lysis of 310 heterozygous beta thalassemic and 75 carriers of Plb Lepore ou t of 3,000 microcythemic subjects from the Campania region of Italy. The mo lecular analysis of beta chains and the delta beta hybrid gene has shown di fferent beta chain defects, but only the Hb Lepore-Boston-Washington type i n association with haplotypes I and V. The prevalence and distribution of t hese molecular defects in Campania show that they are linked to historical events and to the geographical characteristics of this region.