Hemoglobin O Arabia. Considerations on the first nine cases discovered in Romania

The results obtained by investigations in three Romanian families with HbO Arabia are reported. The presence of this type of hemoglobin was ascertained by clinical, hematological and biochemical examinations. The classification was made on the basis of the structural analysis (fingerprinting and aminoacid analysis). Of the nine cases reported, seven were heterozygotic forms showing no hematological alterations or clinical signs of disease. Two cases were doubly heterozygotic, HbO Arabia associated to beta-thalassemia, showing also alterations of the hematological pattern and clinical signs of hemolytic anemia.