Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology (Jan 2011)

Transfusion-induced hemoglobinopathy in patients of beta-thalassemia major

  • Sanjeev K Gupta,
  • Monica Sharma,
  • Seema Tyagi,
  • Hara P Pati

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/0377-4929.85112
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 54, no. 3
pp. 609 – 611

Abstract

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Apparent hemoglobinopathy acquired after blood transfusion is an uncommon cause of diagnostic dilemma resulting in repeated testing and delay in the diagnosis. Out of the 1530 hemoglobin (Hb)- high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) performed at our hospital (May 2009 to April 2010), 3 pediatric cases of thalassemia major were detected having posttransfusion hemoglobinopathy with HbS ranging from 9.9% to 18.5%. In all three cases, there was no variant hemoglobin in earlier documented Hb-HPLC. It is important to be aware of and consider apparent transfusion-induced hemoglobinopathy in patients with unusual percentage of variant hemoglobin to avoid unnecessary treatment and counseling.

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