Coinheritance of α- and β-Thalassemia with a Novel Mutation (HBB: c.268_281delAGTGAGCTGCACTG) in a Chinese Family.

We report a novel mutation (HBB: c.268_281delAGTGAGCTGCACTG) in a Chinese proband, who was also an α-thalassemia (α-thal) Southeast Asian (αα/- -SEA) deletion carrier and displayed characteristic hematological features of β-thalassemia (β-thal) traits. The proband and carriers in her family presented hematological abnormalities. This novel mutation results in a frameshift and consequently creates a premature stop codon at codon 90 of the HBB gene. Thus, couples at-risk for β-thal should also be tested for this mutation. Double heterozygotes for α- and β-thal are easily misdiagnosed as pure β-thal carriers, which should be noted in the process of risk assessment and counseling.