Genetic Background of β-Thalassemia in Northeast Algeria with Assessment of the Thalassemia Severity Score and Description of a new β-Thalassemia Frameshift Mutation (: c.374dup; p.Pro126Thrfs*15).

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is a genetic disorder representing a major health problem in Algeria. Our first objective was to determine the allelic frequencies and molecular spectrum of β-thal mutations in patients with major hemoglobinopathies [β-thal major (β-TM) and sickle cell disease] in three provinces of northeast Algeria. Our second objective was to assess if the clinical management of β-TM patients depended on their region of origin.

HPA antibodies in Algerian multitransfused patients: Prevalence and involvement in platelet refractoriness.

Background: Patients receiving cellular blood components may form HLA or HPA antibodies. The frequency and the specificity of HPA antibodies after a series of blood transfusions have never been reported in the Algerian population which is ethnically diverse and runs a higher risk of platelet alloimmunization due to high b allelic frequencies observed for the HPA systems.

Methods: 117 polytransfused patients were included in this study; the detection of HPA antibodies was performed by the Monoclonal Antibody-specific Immobilization of Platelet Antigens method (MAIPA).