Importance for Premarital screening for Thalassemia in the Middle East.

1. Importance for Premarital screening for Thalassemia in the Middle East.

2. Premarital Screening Premarital test or Premarital genetic screening is a test that is done by couples who are soon to be get married. The couples are tested for genetic, infectious and transmissible diseases to prevent any risk of transmitting any disease to each other and their children. .

3. Thalassemia • Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. • Thalassemia is caused by impaired production of either the alpha or beta hemoglobin chain and is accordingly classified as alpha or beta thalassemia. .

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5. Why it’s important ? • In most of the cases thalassemia patients are unknowingly passing on the genetic disorder to their children. • As per the studies, the rate of this haemoglobinopathy is rising so drastically every year. • A simple blood test for thalassaemia before marriage will let couples know if they are carriers or not. • This could reduce the burden of serious monogenic disorders. .

6. If both the couple are non-carriers, they need not worry. But if both are carriers, they may either decide not to have any children or go for a test called amniocentesis within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to detect if the child is affected or not.

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8. Conclusion • Thus premarital genetic screeningis vital for couples in order to aid them to understand their genetics and help them take the necessary precautions or treatments. • This could also ensure a future generation free from this haemoglobinopathy disease. .

9. Thank you ………..