Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin in Greece. A Study and a Comparison

The features of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin in six Greek families are described. In eight cases this abnormality was associated with typical β-thalassemia; in all these cases Hb A was the major hemoglobin component. The clinical and hematologic picture was that of mild thalassemia. The findings are compared to relevant observations in cases of Negro origin and several differences are stressed. It is tentatively concluded that the inherited abnormality occurring in these families is responsible for an incomplete shift from the fetal to the adult type of hemoglobinopoiesis, i.e., from synthesis of γ-chains to the production of β-and δ-chains.