HbF in HbE/β-thalassemia: A clinical and laboratory correlation. Issue 6 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Wai Feng; Muniandi, Logeswaran; George, Elizabeth; Sathar, Jameela; Teh, Lai Kuan; Lai, Mei I
• Is Part Of: Hematology. Volume 20:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 349
• Page End: 353
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Transfusion -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1179/1607845414Y.0000000203
• Languages: German
• ISSNs: 1024-5332

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is the predominant hemoglobin in red cells during fetal life. Just after birth, the level of HbF decreases gradually to &lt;1%, and is replaced mainly by adult hemoglobin (HbA) (∼97%). However, higher HbF levels could be associated with HbE/β-thalassemia, a complex thalassemia intermedia with a diverse clinical severity ranging from mild-to-severe anemia. This study investigates the correlation of HbF level with the clinical and laboratory data of HbE/β-thalassemia individuals.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>Peripheral blood samples from 30 HbE/β-thalassemia subjects were subjected to a full blood count, genomic as well as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction gene expression studies. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>HbF levels were influenced by age, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), HbA, β-globin, and α/β-globin expressions.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Discussion</title> <p>HbF production is affected by the α/β-globin chain imbalance due to the lack of β-globin gene expression as well as inversely correlates to the amount of functional hemoglobin available in the cells.</p> </sec> </abstract>