Heamogloblin E

[Tasala]

My daughter's heel prick came back showing that she is a carrier of heamogloblin E. I am very confused about what this means, the HV told me that she has a type of sickle cell and should check if any future partner has sickle cell.

I have done an internet search which seems to conclude that Heamoglobin E carrier means she is a thalassemia carrier not sickle cell. Does anyone else got a heamgloblin E carrier child?

might make sense to you www.thalassemia.com/eLtr.pdf

Heamo S may lead to sickle cell so HV is confused ;)

You may also want to look at this nice clear link talking about Haemoglobin E in some detail.

It is not a problem unless the child has both a Haemoglobin E gene and a Beta Thalasemia gene.

The HV got mixed up with sickle cell as that also is caused by a haemoglobin variant. All thalasemias and sickle cell is prevalent in populations that have been heavily exposed to malaria over thousands of years. They all confer resistance to malaria when only one gene is present but the problem comes where two variant hameoglobns are present in the blood.

You must have genetic counselling as will your DD when she is an adult before she has children.