Microcytic hypochromic anemia: Should high performance liquid chromatography be used routinely for screening anemic and antenatal patients.

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are the most common inherited red cell disorders worldwide. Identification of these disorders is immensely important epidemiologically and for improved management protocols. Aim and Objectives: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia and to assess the suitability of using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) routinely for screening antenatal cases and patients with anemia. Materials and Methods: A total of 4335 cases received from Mar 2007 to Nov 2011 were studied for various hemoglobinopathies and variants on BIO RAD ‘VARIANT’ analyzer. Results: Of the 4335 cases studied, 2119 were antenatal cases, 1710 patients with other disorders and 506 family studies. Of these, 688 cases displayed abnormal hemoglobin fractions on HPLC of which 140 were antenatal women. There were 455 cases of  thalassemia trait, 24 thalassemia major, 20 thalassemia inter-media, 54 sickle cell trait, fi vesickle cell disease, 21 double heterozygous  thalassemia–sickle cell trait, nineand 4 Hb D- Punjab heterozygous and homozygous respectively, three Hb D  Thalassemia trait, 20 and 37 Hb E homozygous and heterozygous respectively, three Hb E  Thalassemia trait and four cases of Hb Q India. Twenty nine adults had isolated HbF elevation. Conclusion: Our study found a high prevalence (15.8%) of hemoglobinopathies amongst microcytic hypochromic anemia and antenatal cases. An accurate diagnosis helps in preventing unnecessary iron loading. Screening all antenatal cases with anemia helps in timely antenatal counseling, thus preventing the psychological trauma of bearing a transfusion dependent child for life.