Homozygous haemoglobin C disease
| Hemoglobin C | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | hematology |
| ICD-10 | D58.2 |
| ICD-9-CM | 282.7 |
| DiseasesDB | 29693 |
| MedlinePlus | 000572 |
| eMedicine | article/200853 |
| MeSH | D006445 |
Hemoglobin c (abbreviated as Hb C or HbC) is an abnormal hemoglobin in which substitution of a glutamic acid residue with a lysine residue at the 6th position of the β-globin chain has occurred (E6K substitution).
Most people do not have symptoms. It can cause a mild to moderate enlargement of the spleen, splenomegaly, as well as hemolytic anemia (which is the form of anemia due to abnormal breakdown of red blood cells prematurely). Too much hemoglobin C can reduce the number and size of red blood cells in the body, causing mild anemia. Occasionally, jaundice may occur. Some persons with this disease may develop gallstones that require treatment. Continued hemolysis may produce pigmented gallstones, an unusual type of gallstone composed of the dark-colored contents of red blood cells.
Target cells, microspherocytes and HbC crystals are found in a blood smear from a homozygous patient.
Individuals with sickle cell–hemoglobin C (HbSC), have the gene for HbS inherited from one parent and the gene for HbC is inherited from the other parent: they are "heterozygous". Since HbC does not polymerize as readily as HbS, there is less sickling (fewer sickle cells). The peripheral smear demonstrates mostly target cells and only a few sickle cells. There are fewer acute vaso-occlusive events. However, persons with hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC) have more significant retinopathy, ischemic necrosis of bone, and priapism than those with pure SS disease. People with hemoglobin C trait have red blood cells that have normal hemoglobin A and an abnormal hemoglobin. The abnormal hemoglobin is called hemoglobin C. People with hemoglobin C trait have slightly more hemoglobin A than hemoglobin C. People with Hemoglobin C trait do not have health problems related to having the trait. People with hemoglobin C do not have Hemoglobin C disease or sickle cell disease. They cannot develop these diseases later in life. They can pass hemoglobin C trait to their offspring. Individuals who carry the hemoglobin C trait can have a child with Hemoglobin C disease or Hemoglobin SC disease. Hemoglobin C disease is not a form of sickle cell disease.
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