[Frequency of thalassemia in the South-East of France].

The ethnic and demographic characteristics of the Nice region are predisposing factors in the locally increased frequency of Thalassemia. The use of electronic blood-cell counters has enabled us to pick out easily all those patients presenting with microcytosis. In these patients, foetal hemoglobin, electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and level of hemaglobin A2 by the technique of miniature chromatography on DEAE-cellulose have been analyzed. 270 heterozygotes thalassemics were found in 900 examinations. The statistical study shows an incidence 2% of beta-thalassemia in the Nice region.