Hb J Meerut, a fast‐moving hemoglobin—a study of seven cases from India and a review of literature

Abstract

Fast-moving hemoglobins (FMH) are rare abnormal hemoglobin variants which migrate anodal to hemoglobin A on alkaline agarose gel electrophoresis. Only five cases of Hb J Meerut, an alpha variant FMH, have been reported so far. We here report seven cases.

Hemoglobin J—As a Cause of Congenital Hemolytic Anemia

“…Abnormal Hb should be considered when a major discrepancy is seen between levels of Hb A1c and fasting blood sugar values. In India, Hb J-Meerut has been reported in north Indian population [1,6]. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first case to be reported from a south Indian family.…”

“…They all have an electrophoretic mobility 'faster' than Hb A on cellulose acetate in common [1,2]. The fast moving nature of these Hb variants result from substitution of a negatively charged amino acid residue in either α, β or γ globin gene [1]. For e.g.…”

“…Hb J Meerut results from C→A mutation (GCG→GAG) at codon 120 of the α1 or α2 globin gene [3]. Most of the variants of the J family are not manifested clinically and hence are detected accidentally during family and/or antenatal screening by gel electrophoresis and/or CE-HPLC [1]. Hb J, as unstable hemoglobin has rarely been described previously [4].…”

“…There are more than 48 Hb J variants reported from various ethnic backgrounds all around the world [1]. Though this Hb variant is well known to be clinically silent, the authors report a rare case of Hb J manifesting as unstable hemoglobin causing hemolytic anemia in an infant.…”

A community based pilot study on prevalence of hemoglobinopathies among the antenatal women in a rural area of Darjeeling district, West Bengal

“…This variant is very uncommon with only few cases reported worldwide. [14][15][16] A community based study in 3 districts of West Bengal namely Burdwan, 24 Parganas (North) and Midnapore (undivided) the prevalence rate of carrier state among antenatal mothers was found to be 5.95%. [7] The present study lacked the provision to rule out nutritional anemia in all cases by assay of serum iron, vitamin B12 and folate levels.…”