αααanti-4.2 Haplotype and heterozygous β° thalassemia in a Sicilian family

The presence of the αααanti-4.2 haplotype and heterozygous β° thalassemia in a Sicilian family is described. These findings confirm the presence in Italy of a leftward deletion (−α4.2) and indicate that this may not be rare. Furthermore, although the β thalassemia determinant in this family has a severe expression, the interaction with the triplicated α gene does not necessarily express itself as thalassemia intermedia.