Thalassemias are the commonest inherited hemoglobinopathies in the world. Approximately 68,000 
children are born with various thalassemia syndromes each year. β-Thalassemia represents a major 
public health problem in Egypt. beta thalassemia. It is caused by reduced or absent synthesis of beta 
globin chains. Aim of the work: Determine frequencies & association of HLA DQB1 alleles in βthalassemia major patients. Patients: forty-five unrelated randomly selected β-thalassemia major 
patients, and forty-five unrelated randomly selected healthy individuals, composed the control group 
with age matched to patients of group I. Study procedure: Routine lab investigations & HLA DQB1 
genotyping by real time PCR. The Kit were supplied by DNA-TECHNOLOGY (catalog no.334-1), 
Russia. Conclusion: HLA DQB1*0601 give significance importance as an etiological risk factor for 
β-thalassemia major; HLA DQB1*0302 give significance importance as a preventive risk factor for βthalassemia major.