Korean J Hematol.  2011 Jun;46(2):118-122. 10.5045/kjh.2011.46.2.118.

Hemoglobin F level in different hemoglobin variants

• Olufemi AE
• Sola OB
• Oluwaseyi
• Ajani RA
• Olusoji MO
• Olubunmi H

• KMID: 1782776
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2011.46.2.118

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels in different hemoglobin variants in Osogbo, Nigeria, were estimated using two principal methods of estimation using existing information for HbF concentration and distribution of various hemoglobin variants in the area, as well as diagnosed cases of thalassemia. Two hundred and sixty samples collected from HbSS, HbSC, HbAA, HbAS, and HbAC subjects were analyzed. HbF level and hemoglobin type were determined in this study.
METHODS
The hemoglobin type was determined using cellulose acetate electrophoresis at an alka-line pH, and HbF was determined by the acid elution and alkaline denaturation methods.
RESULTS
The mean+/-SD of HbF in the respective hemoglobin variants was as follows: HbSS, 2.09+/-1.94%; HbSC, 0.85+/-0.54%; HbAA, 0.69+/-0.46%; HbAS, 0.52+/-0.31%; and HbAC, 0.57+/-0.26%. The mean HbF level across the hemoglobin variants was statistically significant (P<0.05). Investigating the sex distribution of the HbF level in the studied population revealed a slightly higher mean HbF level in females than in their male counterparts.
CONCLUSION
Within the study population, the HbF level was found to be highest in HbSS and lowest in HbAS. The two methods of estimating HbF are equally reliable, since there was no significant difference between the results obtained from the two methods.

Keyword

Hemoglobin F; Alkaline denaturation; Acid elution; Hemoglobin variants; Cellulose acetate electrophoresis

MeSH Terms

Cellulose
Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate
Female
Fetal Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin A
Hemoglobins
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Male
Nigeria
Sex Distribution
Thalassemia
Cellulose
Fetal Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin A
Hemoglobins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Percentage distribution of hemoglobin variants in the studied population using cellulose acetate paper electrophoresis.

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  Fig. 2 Hemoglobin F concentrations using cytochemical acid elution method in different hemoglobin variants.

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  Fig. 3 Age distribution of Hb SS variants with Hb F concentration obtained from using cytochemical acid elution method.

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  Fig. 4 (A) Gender effect on the mean Hb F level as obtained using cytochemical acid elution method in Hb SS variant. (B) Gender and age distributions of the mean Hb F level obtained using cytochemical acid elution method among the studied population of Hb SS variant.

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