Rare double heterozygosity for poly A(A〉 G) and CD17(A〉 T) of beta thalassemia intermedia in a Chinese family

Beta thalassemia is a hereditary disorder resulted from mutations in the β globin gene leading to alpha/beta imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis, and chronic anemia. Three types have been defined, based on the degree of reduced beta-globin chain synthesis and clinical phenotype: major, intermedia and minor (heterozygote carrier state). Beta thalassemia intermedia is characterized by heterogeneity for the wide clinical spectrum of various genotypes and a wide range of presentations. The genotypes of beta thalassemia intermedia are much complicated referring to β(+)/β(+),β(+)/β(0), Hb E/β(0), β(0)/β(0) compounding alpha thalassemia and so on. In this present case, we reported a rare beta thalassemia intermedia genotype of double heterozygosity for poly A (A〉 G) and CD17(A〉 T) indicated of β(+)/β(0) in a Chinese family.