Hematologic genetic disorders among Southeast Asian refugees

Area of Science:

• Medical Genetics
• Public Health
• Hematology

Background:

• Southeast Asian refugees resettled in the Western Hemisphere represent diverse ethnic groups from Indochina.
• Genetic trait prevalence varies significantly among these distinct cultural, genetic, and linguistic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of specific genetic conditions among Southeast Asian refugees resettled in the upper Midwest.
• To identify the primary causes of microcytosis in this refugee population.

Main Methods:

• Study included 778 Southeast Asian refugees from five major ethnic groups, comprising 182 unrelated families.
• Analysis focused on the prevalence of hemoglobin E, alpha- and beta-thalassemia disorders, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Main Results:

• High prevalences of hemoglobin E, alpha- and beta-thalassemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency were observed, among the highest globally.
• Hemoglobin E and alpha-thalassemia-1 are the most frequent causes of microcytosis, rather than iron deficiency.
• Serious thalassemic disorders are unusually frequent, particularly in the Tai-Dam ethnic group.

Conclusions:

• The studied Southeast Asian refugee population exhibits exceptionally high frequencies of hemoglobin E, thalassemia disorders, and G6PD deficiency.
• Genetic factors, specifically hemoglobin E and alpha-thalassemia, are the predominant causes of microcytosis in this cohort.
• Urgent clinical and public health attention is warranted for these prevalent genetic conditions in Southeast Asian refugees.