Combined Hereditary Spherocytosis and β-thalassemia trait: A Rare Co-existence

Abstract

Haemoglobinopathies are the commonest haemolytic disorders, prevalent in India and form a major bulk of patients in most of the haematology outpatient clinics. β-thalassaemia is the commonest inherited haemolytic anaemia and presence of β-Thalassaemia Trait (BTT) goes mostly undetected due to its asymptomatic clinical course. However, BTT should be diagnosed so as to conduct a genetic counselling and to prevent the number of births of affected children in turn reducing the financial burden on the affected family. Detection of combined haemolytic anaemia is on a rise due to better screening modalities in haemoglobinopathies. We hereby present two cases of combined BTT and Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS), and their clinical outcome.

Keywords

• haemoglobinopathies
• hepatosplenomegaly
• liquid chromatography
• osmotic fragility