Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research 2008-2207 9 3 2015 09 15 138 142 Ebrahim Miri-Moghaddam Genetics of Non-communicable Disease Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan-Iran. AND Department of Genetics, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan-Iran. Abass Nikravesh Department of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd-Iran. AND Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran. Negin Gasemzadeh Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Zabol University, Zabol-Iran. Mahin Badaksh Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol-Iran. Nahid Rakhshi Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Bojnourd branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran. 2015 10 14 Background: Alpha thalassemia (α-thal) is one of the most common hemoglobinopathies worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum of α-thal mutations among premarital Baluch couples in southeastern Iran. Subjects and Methods: We assessed 1215 individuals by multiplex gap polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR). Results: Of the 1215 participants with mean age of 23±5.7 years, 62.3% lived in urban areas, and the rate of consanguineous marriage was 68.1%. Five mutations were identified, the most frequent one was –α3.7 (rightward) with a frequency of 76.5%, followed by α−5 nt (16.8%), α2/ Codon 19(-G) (4%), –α4.2 (leftward)(2.4%), – –MED (0.3%) among mutated alleles of the α -globin gene. Conclusion: Knowing the alpha-genotype is helpful for genetic counseling, microcytic anemia discrimination and hemoglobinopathy prevention. https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/381 https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/download/381/417