Some hemorheological and hematological parameters in heterozygous β -thalassemia 1

The results of a screening program for heterozygous thalassemia involving 1039 subjects are reported. Identification of possible thalassemia carriers was made on the basis of standard blood indices and quantitative hemoglobin A₂ measurements. Various mathematical relationships reported as discriminant functions for possible thalassemia carriers were tested using these data. None of the currently proposed methods suitable for use in a mass screening program performed successfully. Besides the normal hematological parameters, hemorheological variables including shear viscometry, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and osmotic fragility were also studied.