Hemoglobin E Syndromes: Emerging Diagnostic Challenge in North India

Hemoglobin E (HbE) is one of the world’s most common and important mutations. HbE disorders may be found in heterozygous (AE), homozygous (EE) and compound heterozygous state. It is important to distinguish HbE disorders diagnostically because of marked differences in clinical course among different genotypes. To find out whether RBC indices as obtained from automated cell counter can provide a clue to the diagnosis of HbE disease. This study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Pathology, PGIMER, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. It included antenatal pregnant females brought for routine check-up as well as referred patients suspected of having hemoglobinopathies. High Performance liquid chromatography was used as a confirmatory test for identification of hemoglobinopathy. Total 20 cases of subtype homozygous HbE (3), HbE trait (12) and Eβ-thalassemia (5) were identified. Statistical analysis was done to find out correlation between levels of HBA2, HBF with RBC indices. (a) There was negative correlation between HbA2/E peak values and RBC indices (Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin) among all the three groups taken together. (b) There was positive correlation between HbA2/E and Red cell distribution width (RDW). (c) There was positive correlation between HbF values with MCV. The finding of positive correlation between HbA2/E and RDW may help in differentiating βthal (RDW normal) from HbE/βthal. In a patient with microcytic hypochromic blood picture and increased RDW, diagnosis of HbE/βthal should also be considered along with the more common Iron deficiency anemia. Thus, new insights into the knowledge of these diseases are important because they impart diagnostic challenges to all the experts involved in the treatment of anemic patients.