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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Thalassemia, hemoglobin E, (carrier)
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Thalassemia, hemoglobin E, (carrier)
by Jean-V, Feb 28, 1999 12:00AM
The child we are to adopt has Thalassemia, hemoglobin E, (carrier). Is there someone that can tell me what this is and what is the medical history for these cases? I know that Thalassemia is a genic disorder, but I don't know what hemoglobin E (carrier) means. PLEASE adise!
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS.MD-HSW, Feb 28, 1999 12:00AM
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Dear Jean:
The thalassemias are a complicated set of genetic disorders of hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin consists of two pairs of protein chains. In the various forms of thalassemia, the amount of one of the two types of protein chains available to make hemoglobin varies. Individuals who have a single dose of defective gene (those with the trait or carriers) generally do quite well. Hemoglobin E is a form of thalassemia particularly common in Southeast Asia. Persons with the trait are usually free of symptoms. Of course, they can pass on the gene to their children.
This information is offered for educational purposes only.
HFHS.MD.HSW
Key Words: Thalassemia, hemoglobin, hemoglobin E
