Study of Haematological Profile of Thalassemia Patients With Reference To High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Objective: Beta thalassemia and their interaction with structural HbS and HbE variants are major public health problem in India. This study was carried out to assess the usefulness of HPLC in diagnosis of thalassemia patients and its variants.

Methodology: 209 thalassemia cases during 2.4 year period were investigated.CBC, peripheral smear, reticulocyte count, fetal fraction, sickling tests, HbF, HbA₂, HbA₀, HbE; HbS levels were estimated using BIORAD variant automated HPLC technique.

Results: Out of 209 cases, thalasssemia trait was the most common followed by thalassemia major, HbSβ thalassemia trait, HbEβ thalassemia trait, thalassemia intermedia, δβ thalassemia trait. Buddha community (34.93%) was the most common ethnic group. Consanguinity of 21.53% was observed. The various haemoglobin levels were studied in these groups.

Conclusion: HPLC was found to be simple, rapid and reliable method for detection of thalassemia. Consanguinity of 21.53% highlights the role of premarital counselling in thalassemia patients especially in Buddha and Muslim communities. This emphasises the need of community based targeted awareness, counselling and field work in these cases which is possible by using HPLC.

Keywords: Thalassemia, HPLC, HbS, HbE. 

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