Haemoglobanopathies in southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Objectives: to determine the frequencies of various types of haemoglobanopathies in southern areas of khyber pakhtunkhwa. material and methods: this cross sectional study was conducted in department of pathology,gomal medical college from january 2014 to october 2014. relevant information’s notede on a questionnaire prepared in accordance with the aims and objectives of the study. results: a total of 62 patients underwent hb electrophoresis in department of pathology gomal medical collge,dera ismail khan. 27(43.5%) were females and 35 males (56.5%). majority of the patients 37(59.7%) were in the age range 3 month to 5 years. we received patients from age 3 month to 60 years age for knowing types of haemoglobanopathies. the distribution of patients was 49(79%) patients di khan,tank 10(16%),lakki marwat 2(3.2%) and south wazirstan 1(1.6%). the haemoglobin of all patient as recorded from the peripheral smear. it was observed that 43(55%) patients had hb < 8g/dl and were candidates for blood transfusion. of the above group 17 had hb ranging from 2.2 to 5g/dl (severely anemic). the distribution of various haemoglobanopathies were; beta thallassemia major 16(25.8%),beta thalassemia trait 7(11.3%),sickle cell disease 6(9.7%),sickle cell trait 2(3.2%),sickle cell/beta thalassemia (double heterozygosity) 2(3.2%) and hbe/ beta thalassemia (double heterozygous 1(1.6%). 28(45.2%) had normal hb electrophoresis reports. conclusion: haemoglobanopathies are common in southern areas of khyber pakhtunkhwa. beta thalassemia major is a major haemoglobanopathy. sickle cell diseases are also prevalent in this region especially in the sherani,baytani and ustrana tribes of dera ismail khan. © 2015,khyber medical college. all rights reserved.