Sickle Cell—Thalassemia Disease in Jamaica

Two cases of sickle cell—thalassemia disease are described in young women of mixed Chinese and African parentage. On hemoglobin electrophoresis, a complete suppression of hemoglobin A was found, giving a picture indistinguishable from that seen in sickle cell anemia. The findings in these two cases are contrasted with those in other examples of this disease which we have studied in Jamaica. The importance of these findings in relation to the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is discussed.