Abstract

Hemoglobinopathies constitute an increasing health burden globally.β form of thalassemia is extremely common among Mediterranean people, and it is named after this geographical link. HPLC is an excellent tool for screening various haemoglobin variants including HbF and HbA2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to diagnose hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias using HPLC method in children on the basis of age, ethnicity and sociodemographic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective was carried out including 107 children, screened for the presence of hemoglobinopathies. All children under 5 years presenting with microcytic hypochromic anemia (MCV <80fl), (MCH <27pg), not responding to conventional treatment and with a clinical suspicion of hemoglobinopathy were included in the present study. Children with a recent history of transfusion(less than three months prior to sample collection) were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 107 cases (66 men and 41 women) were included in the present study. Blood grouping, hemoglobin, peripheral smear, serum ferritin, serum bilirubin, ALP, SGOT, SGPT was done for every child. Out of 107 cases,66(61.7%) cases displayed normal Hb pattern, 29 cases (27.1%) were diagnosed as Beta thalassemia trait ,5(4.7%) cases as Thalassemia major, 3 (2.8%) cases as Thalassemia intermedia and 1(0.9%) case each of HbS, HbD, HbE and HPFH . CONCLUSION: HPLC is an excellent tool for diagnosing hemoglobinopathies. It is a useful tool for screening hemoglobinopathies in country like India with a high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies.It also aids in prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies

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