title: [Hemoglobin O Arab: about 20 cases].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hátologie biologique, Hopital Aziza Othmana Tunis Tunisie.
authors.forename: Raouf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hafsia
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouider
authors.forename: Sinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Moussa
authors.forename: Naouel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.forename: Wijdene
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elborji
authors.forename: Aicha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hafsia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; C032031:hemoglobin Arab