Work

Characterization and risk assessment of HbF elevation in non-thalassemia hematologic disease patients in Guangdong region

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study analyzed clinical data and hematological parameters from 3072 patients undergoing thalassemia screening at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, investigating the correlation between non-thalassemic hematologic diseases and elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in Guangdong. Results revealed a significant correlation and identified non-thalassemic hematologic diseases as an independent risk factor for HbF elevation (OR = 13.36, P < 0.001), indicating a substantially higher risk than that of non-hematologic disease patients. Among patients with elevated HbF, significant parameter differences emerged: non-thalassemia hematologic disease patients differed from mild β-thalassemia patients with elevated HbF in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) (P < 0.05); Significant differences in MCV, MCH, RDW-CV, creatinine (CREA), ferritin (Ferr), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) were found between patients with non-thalassemic hematologic diseases and moderate-to-severe β-thalassemia with elevated HbF levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant differences existed between mild and moderate-to-severe β-thalassemia patients with elevated HbF in MCV, MCH, Ferr, TBIL and DBIL (P < 0.05). This research delineates the epidemiological characteristics of hematologic disease-associated HbF elevation in Guangdong, addressing a regional knowledge gap and providing a foundation for clinical risk stratification. Analysis of these differential hematologic indicators deepens understanding of non-thalassemia disease progression, offers clinicians targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, facilitates early detection and intervention, and contributes to broader hematologic research and discipline development.

Source: Annals of Hematology

DOI: 10.1007/s00277-025-06715-1