Thalassemia in Negroes

Abstract

Six Negro women with thalassemia trait are reported. Four were initially believed to have Fe deficiency anemia because there were hypochromic red blood cells (RBC) in the blood and because Fe deficiency is so common in women. Nevertheless, all had non-diagnostic stigmata of thalassemia in the blood smear such as target cells and stippled RBC. All had mild anemia of a degree often ignored among Negroes. The diagnosis of thalassemia trait was established by finding an increased fraction of hemoglobin A2 in each. Proper diagnosis of thalassemia trait can help one to avoid unnecessary therapy with hematinics. These findings suggest that thalassemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of anemia in Negroes.