1. Haemoglobinopathy Prevention Unit, Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
3. Thalassaemia National Centre of Greece, Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece;
4. First Department of Microbiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
5. First Department of Paediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece