Publication Cover
Hemoglobin
international journal for hemoglobin research
Volume 38, 2014 - Issue 3
231
Views
4
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Hb Manukau [β67(E11)Val → Gly; HBB: c.203T>G]: The Role of Genetic Testing in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Hemolytic Anemia

, , , , &
Pages 211-212 | Received 08 Jul 2013, Accepted 23 Nov 2013, Published online: 10 Mar 2014
 

Abstract

The increasing availability of DNA sequencing of globin genes has improved our ability to detect conditions that were presumed to be extremely rare. These conditions may remain undiagnosed due to unfamiliarity with clinical presentation, relative unavailability of advanced diagnostic alternatives, or may defy detection by being electrophoretically silent or extreme instability rendering their presence to be below detection level. Genetic studies were pursued in a mother and daughter with severe hemolytic anemia as initial testing failed to be diagnostic. DNA sequence analysis of the β-globin gene identified Hb Manukau [β67(E11)Val → Gly; HBB: c.203T > G], an extremely unstable hemoglobin (Hb) variant. This is the second family described with this condition (first in the western hemisphere). An astute clinician may benefit from being persistent and pursuing additional testing including molecular genetic characterization where clinical suspicion remains high.

Acknowledgments

We thank David H. K. Chui, M.D., Director, Hemoglobin Diagnostic Reference Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA and Ian Browoski, M.D., Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA for their help with the work-up of this family.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.