Results. Physical examination of the patient revealed a
pale-looking girl without thalassaemic facial changes and
no jaundice. There was no hepato-splenomegaly. Her
hematological data were Hb: 9.2 g/dL ; Hct: 29.2%;
MCV: 77.6 fL; MCH: 24.8 pg; MCHC: 30.7 g/dL; the
reticulocyte count was 10.6%. Microscopic examination
of a blood smear showed moderate hypochromia,
anisopoikylocytosis and few target red blood cells. The
HPLC of the patient showed 47% HbE and 39% of
another abnormal Hb in the position of S window. There
was no HbA in the chromatogram (Figure 1). The hematological
data of her parents were within normal limits.
HPLC and direct DNA sequencing results of both parents
showed heterozygosity of HbE and no other abnormal
Hb. Direct DNA sequencing of the patient indicated
compound heterozygosity of HbE (b26 nt 1 G®A) and
Hb Leiden (b 6 or 7 -GAG). Four polymorphic sites on
b²-globin gene (codon 2 nt 3, IVS-II-16, IVS-II-74, and
IVS-II-81) indicated homozygosity of FW2 in her father