[Hemoglobin O Arab: about 20 cases].
BACKGROUND
Hemoglobin O Arab is a rare abnormal hemoglobin.


OBJECTIVE
We report the Clinical and biological features of this disease


METHODS
20 patients.:16 were compound hétérozygous Hb O Arab/Béta thalassemia and 4 homozygous Hemoglobin O Arab. Patients are 7 men and 13 women.


RESULTS
Most of them are originated from the North West of Tunisia with a age average of 39.7 years. Diagnosis was carried out at a relatively old age (26.9 years old). The homozygous form was not very symptomatic. The compound heterozygous form was more severe and characterized by a mild form of thalassemia with a moderate microcytic hypochromic anaemia (Hb = 8.8 g/dl). It was often complicated of thrombopenia due to hypersplenism in 40% of the cases. Treatment was based on occasionally transfusion and splenectomy on event of hypersplenism. Evolution of this disease was generally good with a long lifespan of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Haemoglobin O Arab is an abnormal hemoglobin well tolerated except for heterozygous category which requires iterative transfusions. Spelenectomy is indicated in case of hypersplenious. The evolution is generally good with a long survival.
Hafsia
Raouf
R
Service d'hátologie biologique, Hopital Aziza Othmana Tunis Tunisie.
Gouider
Emna
E
Ben Moussa
Sinda
S
Ben Salah
Naouel
N
Elborji
Wijdene
W
Hafsia
Aicha
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; C032031:hemoglobin Arab