Abnormal Hemoglobin Identified on High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in a Secondary Care Hospital of Karachi

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the frequency of abnormal hemoglobin variants in local population.

Study Design: Descriptive / Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Kutiyana General Hospital, a secondary care hospital in Karachi from January 2020 January 2021.

Materials and Methods: Samples were collected in Kutiyana hospital in EDTA anticoagulant containing tubes and sent to laboratory of a tertiary care university hospital.

Results: Total of 1083 blood samples were analyzed out of which 736(68%) had normal hemoglobin while 347(32%) had abnormal hemoglobin. The frequency of abnormal hemoglobins (Hb) were beta thal trait 18%, beta thal major 9.9%, Hb D trait 1.1%, Hb D disease 0.7 %, S-beta thal 1%, Sickle cell anemia 0.5%, Hb-E trait 0.4%, Sickle cell trait 0.2% Hb D beta thal 0.1 %, SD disease 0.1% and Hb-E disease 0.1%

Conclusion: Abnormal Hbvariants were detected in a significant number of samples. Beta thal trait was the most common abnormal Hb followed by beta thal major and Hb- D trait. Large scale screening studies are required in general population.