Hb Alessandria [β37(C3)Trp→Leu; HBB: c.113G>T]: a Novel Variant on the β-Globin Chain with Slightly Increased Affinity for Oxygen Detected by Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

We report a novel mutation on the β-globin gene in a 68-year-old woman of Sicilian origin living in Alessandria, Italy. This mutation produces a hemoglobin (Hb) variant of Hb A that was detected by the capillary electrophoresis (CE) method during measurement of Hb A_1c. The variant Hb did not separate from Hb A using different high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instruments. Direct DNA sequencing revealed a G>T transversion at codon 37 and subsequent substitution of a tryptophan residue for a leucine residue. The new Hb variant was named Hb Alessandria [β37(C3)Trp→Leu; HBB: c.113G>T]. The p50 value was slightly decreased while the stability test at 37 °C in isopropyl alcohol and the main erythrocyte parameters were normal. Overall, the patient appeared clinically normal.

Keywords:

• Capillary electrophoresis (CE)
• Hb A_1c
• high oxygen affinity hemoglobin (Hb) variant
• new β-globin variant

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partially supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ricerca Corente).