Which electrophoresis pattern is most indicative of beta-thalassemia trait?

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Multiple Choice

Which electrophoresis pattern is most indicative of beta-thalassemia trait?

Beta-thalassemia trait presents with reduced beta-globin production, so HbA (the normal adult hemoglobin) is lower than completely normal and the body compensates by increasing HbA2 (delta-globin) and sometimes HbF (gamma-globin). The classic electrophoresis pattern that reflects this balance is HbA around 92–96%, HbA2 elevated around 4–6%, and HbF near zero. This combination shows a predominant HbA with a modest rise in HbA2, which is the telltale clue of carrying one beta-globin gene mutation. Other patterns don’t fit trait as well. A pattern with essentially normal HbA and only a mild rise in HbA2 would be closer to normal; a large drop in HbA with very high HbF points toward beta-thalassemia major or intermedia, indicating more severe disease than trait; and a pattern with HbA greatly reduced but HbF not elevated would also suggest a different or more severe change rather than a trait.

Beta-thalassemia trait presents with reduced beta-globin production, so HbA (the normal adult hemoglobin) is lower than completely normal and the body compensates by increasing HbA2 (delta-globin) and sometimes HbF (gamma-globin). The classic electrophoresis pattern that reflects this balance is HbA around 92–96%, HbA2 elevated around 4–6%, and HbF near zero. This combination shows a predominant HbA with a modest rise in HbA2, which is the telltale clue of carrying one beta-globin gene mutation.

Other patterns don’t fit trait as well. A pattern with essentially normal HbA and only a mild rise in HbA2 would be closer to normal; a large drop in HbA with very high HbF points toward beta-thalassemia major or intermedia, indicating more severe disease than trait; and a pattern with HbA greatly reduced but HbF not elevated would also suggest a different or more severe change rather than a trait.

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