| RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 14
| Issue : 2 | Page : 28-31 |
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Significance of red blood cell indices in beta-thalassaemia trait
Laith S Mahdi, Safa A Faraj, Hasanein H Ghali
Correspondence Address:
Hasanein H Ghali
Department of pediatrics, College of Medicine, Baghdad University
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Background: Thalassemia is among the most common genetic disorders worldwide. Detection of hypochromic and microcytosis by the measurement of red blood cell indices is a preliminary step.
Objectives: To enlighten the importance of analysis of Red Blood Cell indices as a proactive step before ordering Hb electrophoresis.
Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis of 378 patients who were sent to the hematology laboratory of Al-Karama Teaching Hospital in the period from 1st of January 2009 to 31st of December 2011. For those patients, CBC and Hb electrophoresis results were reviewed. Patient data were tabulated and processed using SPSS software. P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: Of the 378 patients referred to hematology laboratory in Al-Karama Teaching Hospital in Wasit Governorate, 199 (52.6%) were females. Male to female ratio was 0.8:1. Pallor was the predominant cause of referral for Hb electrophoresis (187 patients, 49.5%). The mean age was (21.5 ± 15.22 years) with a range of (1-73 years). The Hb level was ranging from 4.5g/dl to 18.0 g/dl with a mean of (11.1 ± 2.7 g/d). Red cell volume level was ranging from 49.1 to 103.0 (fL), the mean was (73.4 ± 11.4 fL). Red cells distribution width (RDW) level showed the minimal reading of (25.6 fL) to a maximum one of (89.0 fL) with a mean of (43.60 ± 8.0 fL). About fifty eight percent (218 cases) were having normal Hb electrophoresis results. Thalassemia trait was detected in 37.3% of referred cases (141 cases). P value was less than (0.05) in the measurements of mean of both normal and thalassemia trait patients in regard to Mean cell volume (MCV), Red blood cells (RBC) count, Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (0.0001 for MCV, RBCs, RDW and MCH, while 0.042 for MCHC). The mean Hb level for both normal and thalassemia trait cases were almost similar (both were 11.2 g/dl).
Conclusion: Illogical ordering of Hb electrophoresis might lead to overloading of diagnostic services and over expenditure.
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