title: Hb Bart's and its significance in the South African Negro.
abstract: The haematological indices of cord bloods from 430 South African Negro babies were determined by electronic cell counting and their haemoglobin (Hb) patterns examined by alkaline cellulose acetate electrophoresis. A fast-moving, anodal band, identified as Hb Bart's, was found in 7 (1,6%) of the specimens, this being the lowest incidence of the variant yet found in an indigenous African population. The levels of Hb Bart's ranged from 1.3 to 5.5% of the haemoglobin. These findings were confirmed by alkaline-starch gel electrophoresis and at the same time absence of the slow-moving haemoglobin, Hb Constant Spring was established. Subsequent follow-up of 4 of the infants at 4 months of postnatal life showed that the abnormal component had disappeared. The babies with Hb Bart's had a marked microcytosis and low mean corpuscular haemoglobin levels whilst their parents showed no haematological or electrophoretic signs of alpha-thalassaemia. The significance of these findings is discussed in the light of previously reported studies on various Negro groups.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013019:South Africa; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal