Study of Prevalence of Thalassemia and its variants using HPLC – A Hospital based Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Structural defect in haemoglobin are the most common inherited abnormalities of hemoglobin synthesis. Objective: Early and accurate diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies. Diagnosis of these disorders through HPLC is most convient investigation for diagnosis of hemoglobinapathies. Results and conclusion: Abnormal hemoglobin fractions on HPLC were seen in 338 cases of total 730 samples examined. Out of all the cases, β Thalassemia Minor was the predominant abnormality. 75 cases (10.27%) were β Thalassemia Major and 17 cases (2.325%) were β Thalassemia Intermedia. 2 cases with diagnosis of Sickle β thalassemia were reported. In our study, one case of δβ thalassemia and 4 cases of δβ thalassemia trait were also reported. HPLC is easy and convient method to rule out hemoglobinopathies. The trend of labelling the diagnosis of hemoglobinopathy with HPLC instead of Hb Electrophoresis is rapidly rising. Thus, HPLC is a better tool to rule out hemoglobinopathy and improve the life standards of general population.