Frequencies of Abnormal Haemoglobin Electrophoretic Patterns in Hemolytic Anemia cases in District Swat.

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia is a genetic disorder due to deletion or mutation in the gene for alpha or beta chain of hemoglobin. Thalassemia, sickle cell disease, HbD, HbE, HbC and other such disorders are genetic defects associated with hemolytic anemia's and other complications. The prevalence of these are significantly growing in Pakistan especially in the northern areas of Pakistan. Its prompt detection is of paramount importance, both for the prevention of thalassemia major and clinically severe other hemoglobinopathies as well as for the epidemiological purposes.
Objective: To assess the frequencies of abnormal hemoglobin variants in the suspected cases of hemolytic anemia's, in the population of district swat.
Material and Methods: A total of 1832 suspected cases of hemolytic anemias admitted in SGTH/SMC were assessed after taking clinical and familial history. Whole blood samples were collected in EDTA tube; complete blood counts with peripheral smears were prepared. All samples were processed with fully automatic micro capillary hemoglobin electrophoretic movability (SEBEA micro capillary electrophoresis).
Results: A normal Hb pattern was observed in 1224 (66.81%) cases and abnormalities were detected in 608 (33.18%) cases. â (beta) thalassemia trait was the commonest abnormality found in 477 (26.03 %) patients followed by â thalassemia major 53 (2.89 %), â thalassemia intermedia 24 (1.31 %), raised HbF for age review after one year 17 (0.92 %), Sickle cell trait 9 (0.49 %), Sickle cell disease 8 (0.43 %), sickle/beta-thalassemia 6 (0.32 %) HbD Trait 5 (0.27 %), HbE (0.21%) and HbC (0.10%) were common hemoglobinopathies.
Conclusion: Amongst hemoglobinopathies, â- (beta) thalassemia and sick cell trait/disease is the most common of the hemoglobinopathies in the study area.