Quantitation of globin chains using cellulose acetate electrophoresis: Analysis of fetal globin chain production

Abstract

A technique involving the quantitative estimation of globin chains using cellulose acetate electrophoresis is described, and applied to the analysis of fetal globin chain production. When cord blood was analyzed, there was poor correlation between the globin chain ratios namely beta/alpha, gamma/alpha and beta/gamma ratios with either age or weight of newborn babies between 36-40 weeks gestation: best correlations were obtained for the beta/gamma ratio against weight (P less than 0.05). However, there was highly significant correlation between the various globin chain ratios and either age or weight of the newborn infant up to 12 weeks of age (P less than 0.001). This technique allows visual demonstration and quantitation of abnormal haemoglobins in a single procedure.

F Cells in Gynaecologic Malignancy

“…Fetal haemoglobin (Hb F) is another typical fetal-type protein, since it is produced maximally during fetal life where it forms the major haemoglobin, and the level of Hb F falls gradually to near normal adult levels during the first year of post-natal life (2,4,8). Re-emergence of Hb F production is seen in a number of malignant and non-malignant conditions, involving the bone marrow (4,5,17).…”