MCQ – Haemoglobinopathy

7 May 2019

Which of the following is least likely to have splenomegaly persisting to adulthood? β+ thalassaemia intermedia Sickle cell anaemia Sickle cell trait Sickle β+ thalassaemia   Which of the following is…

Evolution and Spread of HbS

20 Jun 201620 Jun 2016

The gene for β globin (OMIM  is present on chromosome 11 (11p15.4) along with other globin genes (ε, γ, γ and δ). This is known as the β-globin cluster .…

Hydroxyurea – Drug Information

15 Jul 201415 Jul 2014

Hydroxyurea was synthesised in Germany in 1860 and was found inhibit granulocyte production. It was only a hundred years after this that its potential as an anticancer drug was realized.…

Sickle Cells

24 Aug 201331 Aug 2013

Sickle Cells 40X Sickle Cells - 100X Sickle Cells - 100X The three photomicrographs above show sickle cells from a patients with sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anaemia occurs because…

Sickle Haemoglobin and Varients

14 May 201213 Jun 2012

Substitution of the amino acid glutamic acid by valine at position 6 of the beta globin gene (HBB glu6val) results in a mutant haemoglobin that polymerizes at low oxygen pressure. This…

Determinants of Blood Viscosity

19 Mar 201219 Mar 2012

Fluids flow on application of pressure. The flow may be laminar flow that is orderly in parallel layers or turbulent flow that is chaotic. During laminar flow the layer closest…

Detoxifying Haemoglobin

22 Jun 201127 Jun 2011

It is difficult to imagine that a molecule as essential to life as haemoglobin (hb) would need a detoxification mechanism. Anyone who has treated a patient with severe intravascular haemolysis…