An 18-year-old man is recently diagnosed with beta-thalassemia minor. His hemoglobin is 10.5 g/dL, and he
els well. Which of the following indings is characteristic of this condition? (A) an increased amount of fetal hemoglobi
(HbF) or hemoglobin A2 (HbA2)
(B) increased osmotic fragility of the red
cells
© absent bone marrow iron
(D) increased macroglobulins in the serum
(E) small amounts of HbS
An increased amount of HbF or HbA2 would be expected. As beta-chains are decreased in beta-thalassemia, the excess alpha-chains combine with gamma- and delta-chains to make HbF and HbA2, respectively.