Prevalence of beta-thalassemia trait and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Iranian Jews

BACKGROUND: beta-thalassemia is the most common inherited single gene disorder worldwide, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme deficiency. The goal of this study was to compare the frequency of beta-thalassemia trait and G6PD among the Moslem and Jewish populations in Shiraz, southern Iran. METHODS: We examined 201 Moslems and 187 Jewish subjects who were selected by random sampling. For diagnosis of thalassemia, complete blood count and hemoglobin electrophoresis were carried out and for G6PD deficiency, fluorescent spot test methods were used as a screening test. RESULTS: Among Moslem subjects, 14 cases (7.0%) were diagnosed as carriers of beta-thalassemia minor, whereas no carriers were detected among Jewish subjects. Seven Moslems (7%) and eight Jewish subjects (7.5%) were found to have G6PD deficiency. Among both groups the most common mutation was the Mediterranean type (563 C>T). In one Moslem subject, the detected mutation was 1003 (G>A) and in two Jewish subjects the mutations were 1376 (G>T) and G6PD A-. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the frequency of beta-thalassemia minor among Moslems is higher than in the Jews in Shiraz, the frequency of G6PD deficiency was not significantly different in the two populations. These findings suggest that obligatory premarital beta-thalassemia screening for Jews in the community is not necessary, whereas neonatal screening for G6PD could be useful for both Jews and Moslems.