Fetal red blood cell parameters in thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies.
BACKGROUND
With the lack of fetal blood specimens in routine practice, little is known about red blood cell (RBC) parameters of fetuses with various thalassemia syndromes. This study aimed to describe these in various forms of thalassemia.


METHODS
The study was performed on 93 fetal blood specimens obtained from pregnant women by cordocentesis during 18-24 weeks of gestation. RBC parameters were recorded on automated analyzer. Hemoglobin (Hb) and DNA analyses were performed for definite genotyping.


RESULTS
No significant difference in RBC parameters was observed between non-thalassemic fetuses and those with β-thalassemia trait, Hb E trait, homozygous Hb E and β-thalassemia/Hb E disease. However, in those with α(0)-thalassemia trait and double heterozygous α(0)-thalassemia/Hb E, slight reduction in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was noted. Fetuses with the Hb H disease showed significant reductions in Hb, MCV and mean corpuscular Hb (MCH). Marked reductions in Hb, hematocrit, MCH and mean cell Hb concentration and increased RBC distribution width with numerous nucleated RBC were clearly observed in Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple analysis of fetal RBC parameters is useful for making presumptive prenatal diagnosis of α-thalassemia syndromes including Hb H disease and Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis which can then be confirmed by Hb and DNA analyses.
Biomedical Sciences Program, Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Rossarin
R
Karnpean
Goonnapa
G
Fucharoen
Supan
S
Fucharoen
Thawalwong
T
Ratanasiri
D017218:Cordocentesis; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics