Editorial: Thalassaemia in Pakistan

Abstract

Thalassaemia is the commonest single gene disorder of globin chain synthesis all over the world . It is found as thalassaemia minor when the defect is inherited from one of the parents and as thalassaemia major when the defect is inherited from both of the parents. Studies of thalassaemia in Pakistan have shown that 5% of the population have thalassaemia minor. Based on this figure it is estimated that each year in Pakistan approximately 5000 children with thalassaemia major are born and the total number of children with thalassaemia 4 major may be over 50,000.>.....................................................................................................