A comparison of sickle cell syndromes in Northern Greece

Haematological and clinical characteristics have been examined in 30 patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, 28 with sickle cell-beta° thalassaemia, and 21 with sickle cell-beta+ thalassaemia. The latter could be divided into three groups on their molecular basis and HbA levels, four subjects with an IVS-2 nt 745 mutation having 34% HbA (designated Sbeta+ thalassaemia type I), 14 subjects with an IVS-1 nt 110 mutation having 8–15% HbA (designated Sbeta+ thalassaemia type 11). and three subjects with an IVS–1 nt 6 mutation having 20–25% HbA (designated Sbeta+ thalassaemia type III). Comparisons were conducted between SS disease, Sbeta° thalassaemia, and Sbeta+ thalassaemia type II. Compared to SS disease, both thalassaemia syndromes had higher HbAr levels and red cell counts and lower mean cell haemoglobin content (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV) and MCH, and Sbeta° thalassaemia had higher HbF and reticulocyte counts. Compared to Sbeta° thalassaemia. Sbeta+ thalassaemia had a higher haemoglobin and MCHC. Clinically, persistence of splenomegaly was more common in Sbeta° and Sbeta+ thalassaemia type II compared to SS disease. Few significant differences occurred between SS disease, Sbeta° and Sbeta+ thalassaemia type II in Northern Greece suggesting that the 8–15% HbA in the latter condition was insufficient to modify the clinical course