Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin

Abstract

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) is a benign condition in which significant fetal hemoglobin production continues well into adulthood, disregarding the normal shutoff point after which only adult-type hemoglobin should be produced. The percentage of incorrect expression might be as low as 10%–15% or as high as 100% of the total hemoglobin, usually higher in homozygotes than in heterozygotes. The present case is a typical example of homozygous HPFH.

Keywords

• hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin
• heterozygotes
• homozygotes