Pattern of hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias in upper Assam region of North Eastern India: High performance liquid chromatography studies in 9000 patients

Abstract

A high incidence of hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias and their combinations is unique for this part of the country.

A Study on Variants of Haemoglobin in Barak Valley, Assam

“…Most of the subjects with haemoglobin variants have microcytic hypochromic type of anaemia with decreased in the mean MCV and MCH. This finding is in agreement with other studies [13] . Usually RDW is normal in pure thalassemia trait and increased in pure nutritional type of anaemia [6] .…”

“…In contrary to these findings, mean RDW was found to increase in all the subjects with Haemoglobin variants. The same findings were also reported by Baruah et al 13] and Mukhopadhyay et al [14] . Increase in RDW is not a usual finding of pure haemoglobinopathies.…”

“…All the 9(18.36%) subjects of HbE/Thalassemia were anaemic. Similarly, the various studies reported that anaemia was found among the HbE variants [9,13] In this study the mean RBC count was normal. Most of the subjects with haemoglobin variants have microcytic hypochromic type of anaemia with decreased in the mean MCV and MCH.…”

Spectrum of hemoglobinopathies by high performance liquid chromatography with special reference to role of HbA2 levels at tertiary care centre

“…HbA2 ranged from 4.0% to 8.5% with a mean of 5.3%. 14 The HbE elute into the HbA2 window but differentiated upon the retention time and Hb fraction %.In present study we found one case of HbE trait with HbE value of 27.8%. Mondal SK et al in their study found HbA2, HbE and Hb Lepore to elute in A2 window (retention time ±3.3-3.9 min).…”

“…Mondal SK et al in their study found HbA2, HbE and Hb Lepore to elute in A2 window (retention time ±3.3-3.9 min). 14,15 Other than the importance role of HbA2 in the patients with β-thalassemia trait, sickle β thalassemia and HbE variants, there are also other causes which influence on HbA2 levels and may cause underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. We got 7 cases which showed borderline raised HbA2 levels (3.5-3.9%) which were investigated further.…”