A Case Report of Hb-Geelong in Hormozgan Province

Thalassemia is a group of inherited hemoglobin disorders with defect in the synthesis of hemoglobin chains. 

Case:

The young couple resident in Bandar Abbas,  a 23 year old woman with MCV:63fl; MCH:19; HbA2:3.9  and  a 25 year old man with MCV:94fl; MCH:32; HbA2:2.1; HbF:36, were referred to the Bandar Abbas Medical Genetic & PND Center for genetic counselling before marriage. 

Conclusions:  

A rare CD139 mutation (AAT → GAT) was detected which led to substitution of Asparagine by Aspartic Acid in 139th amino acid in hemoglobin chain and created a hemoglobin variant named Hb Geelong. This is the first report for Hb-Geelong in Iran. It seems that this mutation affects the hemoglobin stability though a non-pathologic process and has a phenotype similar to minor β+ thalassemia.