Prevention and control program of thalassemia in Songklanagarind Hospital

Ounjai Kor-anantakul, Assoc. Prof., D. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, F. of Medicine, PSU. E-mail : koounjai@ratree.psu.ac.th

Presented : The 16th Annual Academic Meeting, Faculty of Medicine, PSU, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 16-18 August 2000
Key words : thalassemia, genetic counseling, screening, prenatal diagnosis

Thalassemia prevention and control program has been implemented at Songklanagarind Hospital since 1992. Pregnant women are our target populations. The program is prospective. Four strategies have been used such as genetic counseling, hematological screening (backed up with stan-dard techniques for definite diagnosis), prenatal diagnosis, and therapeutic abortion for an affected case. From 1992-1998, 7785 pregnant women accepted entry into the screening program. Couples at risk of severe thalassemia were 203 case (2.6%). Only 184 couples (2.4%) accepted the prenatal diagnosis after receiving information about the risk of prenatal surgical technique, an error and failure of laboratory. Genetic amniocentesis was the most acceptable prenatal diagnosis method. Total affected pregnancies were 57 cases (30.98%). Abortion within 2 weeks occured in one case. We have been improved in the counseling technique, prenatal diagnosis procedure, and laboratory technique. Last year (1999) no complication was found from the prenatal diagnosis procedure. The laboratory results were all correct. The program shows feasibility of prevention and control of Thalassemia disease in southern Thailand.

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