A 33-year-old nonsmoking Vietnamese man, without any past medical history was evaluated in another hospital in September 2018 for rapidly progressive shortness of breath. The chest radiograph showed a right pleural effusion. A thoracentesis was performed. On gross examination, the appearance of the pleural fluid was milky.

Background: Hemoglobinopathy is the most common monogenic disease worldwide. The aims of the current study were: (1) to investigate some hematological characteristics of patients with hemoglobinopathies; and (2) to detect the mutation of α-globin and β-globin genes, as well as the association between genotype and degree of anemia. Materials and method: 251 patients with hemoglobinopathies were examined for the α-globin or β-globin gene mutations. Results: 51% were the carriers, and 49% were thalassemia intermedia or thalassemia major. Hematological characteristics were suitable for α-thalassemia or β-thalassemia. Elevenβ-globin gene mutations were observed. The β0/βA, βE/βA, βE/βE, βE/β+, β+/β+ genotypes were only found in β-thalassemia intermedia individuals; the β0/β0 genotype was limited to β-thalassemia major patients; the β+/β0 and βE/β0 genotypes were seen in both types. Four α-globin gene mutations were observed. All α-thalassemia patients were intermedia, the most common genotype was --SEA/-α3.7. Conclusion: There were differences in anemia degree between β-globin genotypes Key words: hemoglobinopathies, α-globin, β-globin.

Background: Thalassemia is the most common monogenic disease worldwide. The severity of thalassemia depends on the degree of imbalance between the α-globin and β-globin chains. The aims of the current study were (1) to describe clinical and hematological characteristics of β-thalassemia patients; and (2) to investigate mutations of β-globin gene using Sanger sequencing, as well as the association between β-globin genotype and severity of β-thalassemia. Materials and method: 57 β-thalassemia patients treated at Hue Central Hospital were examined by sequencing the whole β-globin gene. Results: 80.7% with β-thalassemia intermedia, 19.3% with β-thalassemia major. Patients had 100% anemia, 75.4% splenomegaly, 50.9% hepatomegaly, 38.6% thalassemia facies, 28.1% jaundice and 15.8% iron overload; The red blood cell indices were decreased: Hb 7.5 ± 1.3 g/dL, MCV 70.9 ± 8.4 fL, MCH 20.5 ± 2.1 pg. Hemoglobin composition included HbA 35.2 ± 33.9%, HbA2 6.1 ± 2.7%, HbF 24.8 ± 18.0%, and HbE 38.6 ± 15.2%. Nine β-globin gene mutations were observed. The most common genotype was βE/β0, which occupied 80.7%. The βE/βA, β0/βA and βE/β+ genotypes were only found in β-thalassemia intermedia individuals, while the β0/β0 genotype was limited to β-thalassemia major patients. The βE/β0 genotype was seen in both types. Conclusion: There was differences in age of blood transfusion initiation between the genotypes. Among them, the β0/β0 genotype was the most severe. Key words: β-thalassemia intermedia, β-thalassemia major, genotype.

Introduction: Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21, 18 and 13 plays a very important role in the improving population quality. This study was aimed at (1) Identifying the prevalence of trisomy 21, 18 and 13 by QFPCR from amniotic cells of high-risk pregnancies; and (2) Evaluating the association between diagnosed trisomies and some characteristics of mother and fetus. Objectives and methods: 170 pregnant women with high risk of having trisomy 21, 18 or 13 fetuses during first trimester screening (gestation age from 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days). DNA was extracted from amniocytes for prenatal diagnosis using QF-PCR. Results: The prevalence of trisomies was 9.4%, among which trisomy 21 and trisomy 18 accounted for 68.8% and 31.2%, respectively; none of them was trisomy 13. There was the significant association between diagnosed trisomies and maternal age (cut-off 30.5 years old) and nuchal translucency thickness (cut-off 1.95 mm). MoM median of free β-hCG increased in trisomy 21 group (4.35, p = 0.021) and decreased in trisomy 18 group (0.13, p < 0.001) as compared to the non-trisomy group (2.28). MoM median of serum PAPP-A decreased in trisomy 18 group (0.14, p = 0.004) as compared to the non-trisomy group (0.54). Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis by QF-PCR detected remarkable prevalence of fetuses with trisomy 21 và 18. There was the significant association between diagnosed trisomies and maternal age, nuchal translucency thickness, free β-hCG and serum PAPP-A. Key words: prenatal diagnosis, trisomy, QF-PCR