The Pattern of Fetal Haemoglobin Disappearance after Birth

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Abstract
Haemoglobin F (Hb F) levels were determined in 209 full-term newborn babies or infants of different ages ranging from birth to 11 months. A follow-up study of the disappearance of Hb F after birth was carried out on 25 premature babies; they were followed periodically from birth until 8 months. The results obtained in both samples show that Hb F levels remain constant after birth for periods varying from about 15 d in at term babies to about 40 d in premature babies; a linear decrease follows in both cases. The initial plateau is a finding contrary to what has been reported. A possible model for the phenomenon is discussed in terms of haemoglobin genes and ontogenetic differentiation.