Hemoglobin electrophoresis in pregnancy: what is it for?

Hemoglobin electrophoresis in pregnancy: what is it for?
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Hemoglobin electrophoresis in pregnancy

Hemoglobin electrophoresis in pregnancy it is a blood test that can be recommended to future parents both before and during pregnancy, especially if they are healthy carriers of Thalassemia. Let's see what it consists of and what it is used for.





In this article

What is

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. There are several types of hemoglobin. L'electrophoresis of hemoglobesna is a test that measures different types of hemoglobin in the blood and also looks for abnormal types of hemoglobin. It is mostly used to diagnose Mediterranean anemia (or Thalassemia), sickle cell anemia, and other hemoglobin disorders. 



Read also: Iron in pregnancy

What is it

It is a laboratory test that is carried out on a woman's blood sample, obtained with a simple blood sample.



How to do it

The hemoglobin electrophoresis test applies a electric current to a blood sample. This process helps to separate the normal types of hemoglobin from the abnormal ones of hemoglobin and thus each type of hemoglobin can be measured individually.

What are the normal values

Normal types of hemoglobin are, for example:

  • Emoglobina (Hgb) A, the most common type of hemoglobin in healthy adults
  • Emoglobina A2 (Hb A2), which constitutes approximately 3% of the total
  • Emoglobina (Hgb) F, fetal hemoglobin. This type of hemoglobin is found in unborn babies and infants.
    HgbF which is replaced by HgbA shortly after birth. If your HgbA or HgbF levels are too high or too low, it can indicate some types of anemia.

Abnormal types of hemoglobin include:

  • Emoglobin (Hgb) S. This type of hemoglobin is found in sickle cell anemia, an inherited disease that causes the body to produce hard, sickle-shaped red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells are flexible so they can move easily through blood vessels, while sickle cells can get stuck in blood vessels, causing severe and chronic pain, infections, and other complications.
  • Emoglobin (Hgb) C. This type of hemoglobin does not carry oxygen well. It can cause a mild form of anemia.

For adults, the reference percentages of normal hemoglobins are:

  • Emoglobina A (HbA): 95-98%;
  • Hemoglobin A2 (HbA2): 2-3%;
  • Hemoglobin F (HbF): less than 2%.

In particular:

  • A high hemoglobin A2 value - associated with low MCV and MCH values ​​with normal iron and ferritin values ​​- can lead to suspicion of a carrier diagnosis of beta thalassemia.
  • A too low value of hemoglobin A2 - associated with low MCV and low MCH - with normal values ​​of iron and ferritin, should lead to suspect a variant of hemoglobin.
  • A high hemoglobin F (HbF) value - in patients aged two years and over - should suggest the possible diagnosis of beta thalassemia or persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HbF).
  • The presence of variants of the hemoglobin chain such as hemoglobin S (HbS) suggests sickle cell anemia.

The visit to the hematologist

The laboratory report must be evaluated by the specialist, that is, by the haematologist who will eventually prescribe a level II examination.

Hemoglobin electrophoresis and thalassemia

Thalassemia, also called Mediterranean anemia, is a congenital disease of congenital red blood cells, which is inherited and which mainly affects people from countries such as Del Paese, Greece, South Asia, the Middle East.

In this case, the red blood cells are poorer in hemoglobin than normal. Depending on the type of hemoglobin affected, thalassemia can cause mild, moderate, or severe anemia.

Diagnosis is based on genetic testing and quantitative hemoglobin analysis.

Cost

Performed in a private laboratory, this test costs between 20 and 30 euros.

High hemoglobin in pregnancy

The electrophoresis results will then show the types of hemoglobin present and the levels of each type. Values ​​above the norm of hemoglobin A2 (over 3,5% of the total) may indicate the presence of beta thalassemia or Mediterranean anemia.

Too high or too low hemoglobin levels they can therefore mean:

  • Thalassemia, a condition that affects the production of hemoglobin. Symptoms range from mild to severe
  • Sickle cell anemia: as we have seen, a condition that causes mild anemia and sometimes an enlarged spleen and joint pain
  • SC hemoglobin disease, a condition that causes mild or moderate sickle cell anemia

The results can also show whether a specific disorder is mild, moderate, or severe.

References

  • Infant Jesus Hospital
  • ACOG

TAG:
  • prenatal exams
  • pregnancy anemia
  • beta thalassemia
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