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Updated: May 24, 2026

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Neonatal cyanosis due to a new (G)γ-globin variant causing low oxygen affinity: Hb F-Sarajevo [(G)γ102(G4)Asn→Thr,
Urs Zimmermann-Baer1, Ralph Capalo, Fabrizio Dutly
1Clinic of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Abstract:
A baby girl, born at term, presented with severe cyanosis and received oxygen supplementation. Consecutive arterial blood gas analysis showed a pronounced right shift of the saturation curve, suggesting the presence of a hemoglobin (Hb) variant. A new (G)γ-globin variant was detected, namely HBG2:c.308G, which we have named Hb F-Sarajevo, the city from where the baby's parents originate. This A to C transversion exists in cis to the common (A)γ(T) and the resulting mutant Hb molecule exhibits very low oxygen affinity and cooperativity. Its analogue in the β-globin gene is Hb Kansas [β102(G4)Asn→Thr, AAC>ACC].
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