Prevalence of globin gene modifiers encountered in fetuses during antenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies
Pallavi Mehta
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorPratibha Sawant
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorManju Gorivale
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorAnita Nadkarni
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorRoshan Colah
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Malay B. Mukherjee
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Correspondence
Dr. Malay B. Mukherjee, Scientist “F”, Department of Haematogenetics, ICMR- National Institute of Immunohaematology, 13th floor, NMS Building, K.E.M. Hospital Campus, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorPallavi Mehta
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorPratibha Sawant
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorManju Gorivale
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorAnita Nadkarni
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorRoshan Colah
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Malay B. Mukherjee
ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Parel, India
Correspondence
Dr. Malay B. Mukherjee, Scientist “F”, Department of Haematogenetics, ICMR- National Institute of Immunohaematology, 13th floor, NMS Building, K.E.M. Hospital Campus, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Introduction
The hemoglobinopathies are the commonest group of single gene disorders in the Indian subcontinent. Although genetic modifiers are known to have a remarkable effect on phenotypic expression, the effects of the possible co-inheritance of different modifiers are not taken into account during prenatal diagnosis. The present study was undertaken to look for the frequency of globin gene modifiers like the types of β-globin gene mutations, α thalassemia, α gene triplication, and the Xmn1 polymorphism in fetuses during antenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.
Materials and methods
A total of 580 fetuses with different diagnoses were screened for the presence of genetic modifiers.
Results
Twenty-two different β-globin gene mutations were identified of which 3.5% were milder mutations. Among the affected fetuses, 29.6% of the β-thalassemia major and 52.9% of the sickle cell anemia (SCA) fetuses had one genetic modifier while 3.7% of the β-thalassemia major and 41.1% of the SCA fetuses had co-inherited two modifiers. α-gene triplication was detected in 16 (3.5%) β-thalassemia/sickle cell heterozygous and normal fetuses of which 5 babies (2 β-thalassemia heterozygous and 3 normal) could be followed up. Of the 2 β-thalassemia heterozygous babies, one had a severe clinical presentation.
Conclusion
Many fetuses had one or two gene modifiers. However, the impact of these on ameliorating the severity of the disease could not be evaluated as all the fetuses with β thalassemia major or sickle cell disease were terminated. Parents having heterozygous fetuses with α gene triplication should be followed up periodically after birth for better management of these babies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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