hemoglobin E

Epidemiology

• 2nd most prevalent hemoglobin variant worldwide & 3rd in US following Hgb S & C
• most common in patients of southeast Asian decent

Clinical manifestations

• no anemia in homozygous state

Laboratory

• complete blood count (CBC
  • microcytosis
    • MCV = 67 fl {homozygous}, 73 fl {heterozygous}
    • out of proportion to degree of anemia
  • RDW is generally normal
• iron studies are generally normal
• hemoglobin electrophoresis

More general terms

• hemoglobin-variant