DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGES IN HEMOGLOBIN-F LEVELS DURING THE 1ST 2 YEARS OF LIFE IN NORMAL AND HETEROZYGOUS BETA-THALASSEMIA INFANTS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 69  (6) , 734-738
Abstract
To study the developmental pattern of HbF during the first 2 yr of life, levels of HbF were estimated in 2 groups of infants: 117 normal infants and 98 heterozygotes for .beta.-thalassemia, all aged between 1-24 mo. Levels of HbF in .beta.-thalassemia heterozygotes were significantly higher than those of normal infants of the same age (P < 0.01). A reference curve for the decline of HbF in infants with .beta.-thalassemia trait was established to facilitate the diagnosis of heterozygotes during this period of life. HbA2 was also higher in .beta.-thalassemia heterozygotes than in normal infants of the same age. HbA2 increases with increasing age, reaching normal adult values at age 5-6 mo. The higher level of HbF in heterozygous infants during the first 2 yr of life is evidently associated with the presence of the .beta.-thalassemia gene, which influences the increased synthesis of HbF in red cells.