Thalassemia screening among Royal Thai Army medical cadets

Thalassemia, common in Thailand, varies from mild to severe anemia, resulting in work inefficiency, particularly during exertion. Therefore, it is important for military cadets to be screened. The objective of this study was to screen for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies among Royal Thai Army medical cadets. We tested 358 third-year Royal Thai Army medical cadets for complete blood count, red blood cell indices, hemoglobin (Hb) typing, inclusion bodies, and Hb A2, and Hb E. DNA analysis confirmed alpha-thalassemia, trait detection. The Hb E trait was the most frequent, respectively, in men and women, at 12.61% and 12%, followed by the a-thalassemia1 trait, at 3.3% and 4% and the beta-trait, at 1.5% and 0%. Two cases of homozygous Hb E were found only in men. Interestingly, a mild form of 1-thalassemia/Hb E was found in one male RTA medical cadet. These findings suggest that consistent thalassemia screening should be considered.