Background: The thalassemias are hereditary hemolytic anemias characterized by reduced or absent synthesis of one or more of globin chains of hemoglobin leading to globin chain imbalance.The most important forms of thalassemia result from autosomal mutant genes that reduce the rate of synthesis of α and β chains of hemoglobin (Hb) A, leading to α and β thalassemias respectively.In Egypt, β-thalass...