More Maladies in Mediterranean Migrants Stomatocytosis and Macrothrombocytopenia

The vigorous immigration policy pursued by this country since World War II has resulted in the immigration to Australia of many persons from the Mediterranean littoral; so much so that subjects of Italian, Greek and Maltese origin now constitute a significant proportion of our population. With them, they have brought those inherited disorders which are peculiar to them. The increasing incidence of such hæmatological disorders as thalassemia in its many variants, favism and red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency was anticipated and thus recognized early. Today, almost every medical student will see at least one case of thalassæmia, a situation rare indeed two decades ago. Recently, hæmatologists in this country have reported further abnormalities affecting Mediterranean immigrants.