Thalassemia Patients and Friends
Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Minor => Topic started by: blissd on November 16, 2013, 01:12:11 PM
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Hello! I'm new to the forum and just got the results from a routine pre-wedding Hb analysis and the report suggested a DNA testing to rule out alpha thalassemia trait. I haven't got the results in my hand currently but these are what I can remember from the Hb analysis...
From the CE/HPLC, I had:
Normochromic normocytic RBCs
88% of HBAo
0.2% of Hb (Others) - ? Bart's / Variant <--- this was written in the report... I will include further details later...
Do these findings suggest I have alpha thal? Any response would be greatly appreciated... Am worried sick! Thank you!
- BTW, all other findings were normal e.g RBC (slightly above the normal range), Hb, MCV etc.
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If Hb Barts is detected it means you are an alpha thal carrier, most likely a single gene deletion since the other tests were normal, but because there is a ? I would suggest getting a second hemoglobin electrophoresis test done to verify the presence of Hb Barts. There are no health implications form being what is called a silent carrier, but it does have significance in terms of having children. If you were to have a child with a two gene deleted alpha thal, there would be a possibility of the child having the more serious HbH condition, so it may be wise to have any partner tested before having children.
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I've already had my blood sent for DNA analysis... if it's not Hb Barts, will I still have alpha thalassemia even with the 0.2% "Others" in the CE results?