Glutathione Stability Test in Hæmoglobin E–Thalassæmia Disease

Abstract

HÆMOGLOBIN E- thalassæmia disease represents a double heterozygous state with reference to genes for hæmoglobin E and thalassæmia. Studies on glutathione stability which have recently provided valuable information regarding the cause of hæmolysis as it occurs in drug-induced hæmolytic anæmia and in hereditary non-spherocytic hæmolytic anæmia have not so far been done in hæmoglobin E – thalassæmia disease. In the present communication, 20 cases of hæmoglobin E – thalassæmia disease were investigated with reference to the behaviour of their erythrocytically reduced glutathione-level when incubated in vitro with acetylphenylhydrazine. The relevant features of these 20 cases are given in Table 1.