Authors : Shaista Choudhary, Jaydeep G.L
DOI : 10.18231/j.jdpo.2019.028
Volume : 4
Issue : 2
Year : 2019
Page No : 141-142
Introduction: Thalassemia is a worldwide Haemoglobin disorder,charecterised by reduction or absence of one or more of the globin chains.The overall prevalence ranges between 0.3 to 25 per 1000 live births. In India alone every year 10% of total world thalassemics are born with carrier rate varying from 3-5% in North India and 1-3% in south india. Among all the haemoglobinopathies beta thalassemia trait is under diagnosed and over looked because of the other health priorities.
Aims and Objectives: Comparision of Sehgals’s index with Mentzer’s index in screening of beta thalassemia trait. Both the indices were calculated in all Microcytic hypochromic anemia cases in age group <18>
Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in the department of pathology at our tertiary care center for the duration of 6 months 200 cases of microcytic hypochromic anemia were reported followed by screening for beta thalassemia trait by calculating sehgal’s & mentzer’s indices. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was done for the samples showing positive for the indices.
Results: Out of 200 cases, 40 cases showed positive sehgal’s index & 34 cases showed positive for mentzer’s index. In Our study Sehgal’s index showed 96% sensitivity & 91% specificity. Mentzer’s index showed 94% sensitivity & 92 % specificity, Thus sehgal’s index being more sensitive and Mentzers being more specific in combination of both being more accurate in detecting beta thalassemia.
Conclusion: The study was done to promote screening method to detect Beta thalassemia trait using these two haematological indices which were found to be highly specific,sensitive and quite accurate in detecting Beta thalassemia trait before taking a call for haemoglobin electrophoresis and HPLC which is an economical burden.
Keywords: Beta thalassemia trait, Sehgals’s index, Mentzer’s index, Paediatric age group.