Hb Hubei [α114(GH2)Pro→His, HBA1: c.344C>A]: A Novel Hemoglobin Variant of the α1-Globin Chain

Hb Hebei [α20 (B1) His→Leu; HBA2:C.62A > T]: A Novel Hemoglobin Variant Found during Measurement of Glycated Hemoglobin

We report a novel hemoglobin (Hb) variant found in a 34-year-old Chinese male during a routine measurement of glycated hemoglobin. The variant resulted in a P3 peak of 27.5% of the total Hb on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a glycated hemoglobin mode. However, no abnormal Hb peaks were observed in capillary electrophoresis (CE) with 3.1% Hb A2 and 96.9% Hb A. The amino acid substitution was determined by Sanger sequencing as α20 (B1) His→Leu; the corresponding DNA mutation was identified as CAC > CTC at the first position of codon 20 of the α-chain. This is the first description of the mutation, and we have named it Hb Hebei for the region of origin of the proband.

Compound heterozygosity for hemoglobin variant Hb-Broomhill and the Southeast Asian α-thalassemia deletion does not worsen outcome: a case report of two unrelated patients

We report two unrelated cases of compound heterozygosity for hemoglobin (Hb) variant Broomhill and the Southeast Asian (- - ^SEA/) α-thalassemia deletion, whose clinical features and laboratory findings have never been reported. Hematological analyses revealed abnormal values for both cases as α-thalassemia traits, and capillary electrophoresis suggested an abnormal peak that was incompletely separated from the Hb A peak. A suspension array system and Sanger sequencing were used to characterize the genotypes. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of Hb Broomhill [α114(GH2)Pro→Ala; HBA1: c.343C>G]. Eventually, both cases were accurately diagnosed as compound heterozygotes for Hb Broomhill and the (- - ^SEA/) α-thalassemia deletion, which is the first known report of these variants. This information will be useful when providing appropriate genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.

Hb Guangxi [β65(E9)Lys→Glu (AAG>GAG); HBB: c.196A>G]: A Novel β-Globin Variant

We report a novel variant found in a female from Guilin municipality in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. This variant can be readily detected by both cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Sanger sequencing revealed a novel mutation on the β-globin gene [β65(E9)Lys→Glu (AAG>GAG); HBB: c.196A>G]. We named this novel hemoglobin (Hb) variant Hb Guangxi for the place of origin of the proband.

Compound Heterozygosity for an Unstable Novel Hemoglobin Variant, Hb Dongguan [α52(E1)Ser→Cys (TCT>TGT); HBA1: c.158C>G], and the - -SEA (Southeast Asian) α-Thalassemia Deletion

Here we report a 67-year-old Chinese male carrying an unstable novel hemoglobin (Hb) variant in compound heterozygosity with the - -^SEA (Southeast Asian) α-thalassemia (α-thal) deletion. Hemoglobin analysis by capillary electrophoresis (CE) revealed a rapid degradation feature of the variant. Sanger sequencing of the Hb gene revealed a novel homozygous mutation in exon 2 of the α1-globin gene [α52(E1)Ser→Cys (TCT>TGT); HBA1: c.158C>G]. We named this novel variant Hb Dongguan for the place of origin of the proband. Additionally, gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) indicated the presence of the heterozygous - -^SEA α-thal deletion.