Thalassemia: Impact of consanguineous marriages on most prevalent monogenic disorders of humans

Thalassaemia is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder closely associated with consanguineous marriages. A literature search was conducted with an aim to investigate thalassemia and consanguineous marriages. Articles were searched from Google Scholar and Pubmed information regarding thalassemia associated complications, epidemiology of thalassemia and association between consanguineous marriages and thalassemia, which was subjected to contemplation. Thalassemia carrier rate varies differently in different regions of the world. In Indian subcontinent and China, Central Asia, South Europe (also known as North Mediterranean) and Arab Region, the thalassemia carrier rates were approximately 1%–40%, 4%–10%, 1%–19% and 3%, respectively. In Pakistan, the annual number of infants born with beta thalassemia is the highest as compared to other countries from Eastern Mediterranean Region. Although the management and control of thalassemia is a difficult task, it can easily be achieved via the assistance of prenatal diagnosis and prevention programs. Consanguineous marriages should be avoided to further limit the future burden of thalassaemia disease.