Apoptosis in thalassemia variants from Thailand.

Mean (± SD) values for the percentage of erythroid precursors undergoing apoptosis in 37 studies in 32 patients with the 4 clinical diagnoses of α and β thalassemia. The studies used both the annexin V and, where available, the Hoechst 33342 method. Results of statistical analyses based only on the Hoechst data from group 1 were as follows: control versus HbH/CS, P < .03; control versus hemoglobin constant spring/constant spring (HbCS/CS),P < .05; control versus β thalassemia/hemoglobin E (β-thal/HbE), P < .0001; β-thal/HbE versus HbH,P < .006; β-thal/HbE versus HbH/CS,P < .005; and β-thal/HbE versus HbCS/CS, not significant.