Detection of Coinherited Hb H-Constant Spring/Paksé Disease and Hb E by Capillary Electrophoresis and High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been proven to be superior to a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method in the detection of Hb H-Constant Spring/Paksé [Hb H (β4) Hb CS or α142, Term→Gln, TAA>CAA (α2)]/Paksé [α142, Term→Tyr, TAA>TAT (α2)]. It also has the ability to quantify Hb Bart’s (γ4). The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of the CE and HPLC in the detection of Hb H (β4)-CS/Paksé-E [β26(B8)Glu→Lys, GAG>AAG] disease. The laboratory results from July 2009 to July 2012 were reviewed at the Thalassemia Laboratory of the Associated Medical Sciences Clinical Service Center, Chiang-Mai University, Chiang-Mai, Thailand. The HPLC or CE method was used for the diagnosis of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and hemoglobinopathies, and molecular analysis was used for the diagnosis of α-thalassemia-1 (α-thal-1) Southeast Asian (SEA) and Thai type deletions, Hb CS and Hb Paksé. Hb H-CS-E was found in six samples and Hb H-Paksé-E was found in one sample, respectively. On the capillary electrophoregram, peaks of Hb Bart’s and Hb CS/Paksé were observed in all samples with the mean levels at 2.4 and 1.0%, respectively. These peaks were also presented on the HPLC chromatogram. However, the Hb CS/Paksé level could be quantified in only three of these seven (43.0%) samples. Therefore, CE was proven to be superior to HPLC in the detection of Hb H-CS/Paksé-E disease, which will assist in diagnostic, counseling and prevention programs for these diseases.

• Hb E trait
• Hb H disease
• Hb Constant Spring
• Hb Paksé
• Capillary electrophoresis (CE)
• High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Acknowledgments

The authors thank technicians at the Associated Medical Sciences Clinical Service Center, Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang-Mai University, Chiang-Mai, Thailand for their assistance.

Declaration of Interest

This study was supported by grants from the National Research Council of Thailand. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.