Spectrum of Hemoglobinopathies: A New Revelation in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Odisha

The prevalence of different types of hemoglobinopathies and its spectrum in Odisha state is believed to be high, but its exact prevalence is not known due to lack of large population based study. The present study was undertaken to know the magnitude and spectrum of hemoglobinopathies among the patients attending tertiary care centre for evaluation of anemia. All the patients of various age group without any history of blood transfusion preceding 3 months of period attending the Clinical Hematology Department of SCB Medical College, Cuttack for evaluation of anemia were included in this 10 year prospective study. Detail history, clinical examination followed by blood sample examination including by HPLC/CzE were done in all cases. Other investigations were done as per need of evaluation of anemia. Out of 21,371 patients with anemia, hemoglobinopathies was detected in 10,745 (50.2%) cases. The profile of hemoglobinopathy was as follows: HbS gene in 52.48% cases, betathalassemia in 54.06% and HbE hemoglobinopathies in 9.19% cases. Hemoglobinopathy was detected in very high percentage (50.2%) of cases in our centre. Various types of β-thalassemia and sickle cell hemoglobinopathies were two major types (54.06% and 52.48% respectively). This needs to be confirmed by large population based study.