Phenotypic and molecular diversity of haemoglobin H disease: a Greek experience

Haemoglobin H (Hb H) disease is the severest form of alpha -thalassaemia compatible with post-natal life and occurs when alpha -thalassaemia mutations interact to reduce alpha -globin synthesis to levels approximately equivalent to the output of a single alpha -globin gene. Hb H disease has variable clinical expression, mainly related to underlying genotypes. The spectrum of alpha -thalassaemia determinants in Greece appears greater than in any other population studied and, in 75 Greek Hb H disease patients, we found 12 alpha -thalassaemia mutations interacting to produce 15 Hb H disease genotypes. Evaluation of haematological, biochemical and clinical findings, and correlation with genotypes, defined genetic predictors of disease severity and factors involved in disease progression. In accordance with previous reports, patients with non-deletion alpha -thalassaemia mutations had more severe clinical expression. Additionally, we found that all patients with the most severe phenotypes had alpha -thalassaemic globin variants. Phenotypic severity was not simply related to the degree of alpha -globin deficiency: high Hb H levels were found to exacerbate anaemia by negatively influencing tissue oxygenation, and both Hb H and alpha -thalassaemic haemoglobin variants appear to reduce red cell survival within the bone marrow and circulation. Together with the long-term follow-up in many patients, this report provides comprehensive information for management of Hb H disease and appropriate family counselling.