Hemoglobin D
Hemoglobin D (Hb D) is not a common disease but it when it does rear its ugly head it usually does so in India, Pakistan or Iran. It was first discovered in 1951 and differs from the other hemoglobin diseases by producing clinically significant conditions like sickle cell anemia and chronic hemolytic anemia of moderate severity (Desai 2004) Hb D usually presents with a mild hemolytic anemia and a mild to moderate splenomegaly. Differentiating Hb D with other hemoglobin diseases is usually done by the zero thalassemia and the fact that it has also been reported to be associated with hematological malignancies. (Desai 2004 pg 13) The disease itself is relatively rare and rather difficult to study due to its rarity. When it is found it is normally done so in north west India or additionally in Pakistan, Iran and other Asian countries such as Thailand. A common variation of the Hb D has been named Hb D-Punjab due to its occurrences in the Punjab region. Basic biochemical properties for Hb D include the normal Hb properties with a substitution of the G AA C AA substitution at condon 121. In addition to that substitution, there is the -28 (AuG) mutation for the thalassemia alleles. One recent study shows
These two Md's summarized the disease by stating that the patients with sickle cell hemoglobin D disease can usually be discovered with the following symptoms; osteo-articular pains, pallor and jaundice. (Restrepo 1965 pg 1305) Since Hb D is often associated with sickle cell anemia, the current news reports often do not specifically mention Hb D, rather than that, they focus on the more common sickle cell anemia. Many patients in that age are coping well with the disease but are less able to cope with the new reality of paying for that maintenance. These two doctors discovered a number of interesting facts concerning Hb D. In 1965 a case was presented by Restrepo and Londono in Medellin, Colombia. "I came to the hospital because I couldn't deal with it at home (taking pain pills) by mouth. In one recent article the reporter said, Patients with the incurable sickle cell anemia can now live into their 50's due to better drugs and treatments. (Desai 2004 pg 14) Hb D was first presented by Itano(1) in 1951 and from that time until 1965 only an additional eight cases were discovered. " (Landola 2007) The question that arises is what a community (whether that community is a small city, town, metropolitan or nation) can do to overcome and service a disease such as sickle cell that usually only affects a certain segment of the population. Some of the conclusions that these two gentleman came to in regards to hemoglobin D (specifically concerning their case study as compared to the other eight cases presented before them) was that, although the clinical characteristics of the published cases are not uniform, all have in common a mild hemolytic syndrome similar to that observed in the mild forms of sickle cell anemia. The disorder also affects people of Mediterranean descent and people from Spanish-speaking countries in higher numbers. Many of medical problems of today's society comes down to how much financial support can be given to those who are fighting the disease. (Fucharoen 2002 pg 261) Fucharoen's study showed that finding of Hb D-Punjab in Thailand is compatible either with an independent origin of this abnormal hemoglobin or a spread of the Hb D-Punjab gene with a single origin among Asians. (Lemondola 2007) Other current event topics confirm Lemondola's remarks and there are plenty of groups, regional and national in scope, that are working diligently to inform the public, and raise funds to combat the effects of this disease, especially in the African-American communities where there is a higher prevalence of the disease than with other groups. If, by promoting studies, such as the ones on Hb D, can enlighten those who control the purse strings, and that more financial support can be lent to the cause, then it is their duty to do so.
Common topics in this essay:
Colombia Md's,
Candice Johnson,
Hb D-Punjab,
Pakistan Iran,
Differentiating Hb,
Asian AD-Punjab,
AA AA,
Hb D-beta,
sickle cell,
Asians Fuchareon,
Hemoglobin Hb,
cell anemia,
sickle cell anemia,
hb d-punjab,
restrepo 1965 pg,
cell disease,
restrepo 1965,
sickle cell disease,
desai 2004,
1965 pg,
mild hemolytic,
1965 pg 1303,
reported associated hematological,
hemolytic anemia,
associated haplotype,
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