title: HbF in HbE/β-thalassemia: A clinical and laboratory correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is the predominant hemoglobin in red cells during fetal life. Just after birth, the level of HbF decreases gradually to <1%, and is replaced mainly by adult hemoglobin (HbA) (∼ 97%). However, higher HbF levels could be associated with HbE/β-thalassemia, a complex thalassemia intermedia with a diverse clinical severity ranging from mild-to-severe anemia. This study investigates the correlation of HbF level with the clinical and laboratory data of HbE/β-thalassemia individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples from 30 HbE/β-thalassemia subjects were subjected to a full blood count, genomic as well as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction gene expression studies. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HbF levels were influenced by age, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), HbA, β-globin, and α/β-globin expressions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HbF production is affected by the α/β-globin chain imbalance due to the lack of β-globin gene expression as well as inversely correlates to the amount of functional hemoglobin available in the cells.
authors.forename: Wai Feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Logeswaran
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muniandi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Jameela
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sathar
authors.forename: Lai Kuan
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: Mei I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006446:Hemoglobin E / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006446:Hemoglobin E; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin
keywords: HbE/β-thalassemia; HbF; MCH; MCV; β-globin expression