Hemoglobinopathies in the Hamilton region. II. Thalassemia traits and iron therapy.

Abstract

Between July 1973 and July 1974 all adult patients with hypochromic anemia and a mean corpuscular volume of 75 mum3 or less were screened for hemoglobinopathies. Of the 490 patients 105 had beta-thalassemia trait, 11 had alpha1-thalassemia trait, 4 had hemoglobin Lepore trait and 1 had hemoglobin H disease. Of 48 inpatients whose charts were reviewed 19 had been on oral iron therapy and 7 of them had been given iron intramuscularly. Of 27 outpatients interviewed 10 had been on intermittent iron therapy for 18 months or more; 4 had been given at least 1 g of intramuscular iron. Iron deficiency was not documented in any of these patients. Iron deficiency should be diagnosed by means other than the presence of a hypochromic picture in the peripheral blood before iron therapy is instituted, particularly in communities with a large population of Mediterranean or South-East Asian origin.

• Authors: M A Ali
• Journal: Canadian Medical Association journal (Can Med Assoc J) Vol. 112 Issue 6 Pg. 701-2 (Mar 22 1975) ISSN: 0008-4409 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 1122440 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hemoglobin H
• Iron

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Anemia, Hypochromic (diagnosis)
• Blood Cell Count
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Erythrocytes, Abnormal
• Hemochromatosis (chemically induced)
• Hemoglobin H (isolation & purification)
• Hemoglobinopathies (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Iron (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Iron Deficiencies
• Thalassemia (diagnosis, drug therapy)