The Clinical Approach Toward Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin:  A Case Report

Afshin Ghaderi; Tahereh Bakhtiari; Saeid Jokar; Abbas Eshraghi

doi:10.18502/ijaai.v21i3.9810

Afshin Ghaderi Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology Ward, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Tahereh Bakhtiari Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Saeid Jokar Department of Internal Medicine, Shahids Rajaee Hospital of Gachsaran, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Abbas Eshraghi Department of Internal Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijaai.v21i3.9810

Keywords: Blood protein electrophoresis; Fetal hemoglobin; Hemoglobinopathies

Abstract

Fetal hemoglobin is the principal hemoglobin in the human fetus, and the adult levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) are less than 1% of total hemoglobin. A steady increase of HbF in patients with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) is associated with complications. The present report describes HPFH in a 26-year-old man with emphasis on its hemoglobin electrophoresis. The patient was admitted with complaints of recurrent weakness and lethargy, weight loss, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia. Splenectomy was planned due to massive splenomegaly and gastrointestinal complications. Ultimately, electrophoresis confirmed the diagnosis of HPFH.