title: Fetal haemoglobin level--effect of gender, age and haemoglobin disorders.
abstract: Fetal haemoglobin (Hb F) levels shows significant variations in health and disease states. In this study we investigated Hb F level in 75 cord bloods, 1266 healthy individuals, 1582 Hb S heterozygotes, 464 sickle cell anaemia, 93 Hb S/beta(0) -thalassaemia and 65 beta-thalassemia major patients. The age range of the study groups varied from newborn to over 60 years of age. Hb F level was measured by an alkali denaturation procedure and by radial immunodiffusion. The ratio of the level of G gamma-globin chains to the level of A gamma-globin chains (G gamma/A gamma) was determined in the patients group by high performance liquid chromatography. The Hb F level was significantly higher in the sickle cell anaemia and beta-thalassemia major patients compared to the Hb S heterozygotes and the normal individuals. Within each group Hb F level was higher in the female population compared to the age-matched male groups. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the sickle cell disease patients and beta-thalassemia major patients but not in the normal individuals. After the age of 30 years, the difference in the value of Hb F in the male and female population become more apparent (P < 0.05) in the sickle cell disease and beta-thalassaemia major patients. No statistically significant sex differences were found in the G gamma/A gamma ratio in the patient groups, and the range of G gamma/A gamma ratio in the patients groups were similar to those in the control group. The results showed that age, sex and genetic disorders of haemoglobin are factors that affect Hb F level and indicate the possible involvement of an X-linked factor in control of Hb F production.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: el-Hazmi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Warsy
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Addar
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Babae
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin