Study of Pattern of Hemoglobinopathies Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Neonates and Infants”

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Hemoglobinopathies are a significant public health concern in many countries, including India. Hemoglobinopathies contribute significantly to high levels of morbidity and mortality by causing moderate to severe hemolytic anemia. So, it is critical to correctly identify neonates and infants carrying these abnormalities and avoid developing hemoglobinopathies in future pregnancies. Hence, screening and accurately identifying hemoglobin variants have become increasingly crucial in antenatal diagnosis and preventing Hb disorders. Materials and methods: 119 cases were screened for hemoglobinopathies on the Bio-Rad D10 DM high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The retention times, the proportion of the hemoglobin (%) and the peak characteristics for all hemoglobin fractions were recorded. Neonates and infants with Hb and MCV below the normal range for that age were included, and infants with a history of blood transfusion in the last three months were excluded from this study. Results: Out of 119 subjects, 111(93.27 %) were diagnosed as normal, 4 (3.36%) were diagnosed as Beta-thalassemia homozygous, 3 (2.52 %) were detected as beta-thalassemia heterozygous and 1 (0.8%) was diagnosed as Hemoglobin J on HPLC study. Conclusion: For the routine evaluation of hemoglobinopathies, HPLC is advantageous due to its superior resolution, rapid assay time, and precise quantification.