The occurrence of different levels of G gamma chain and of the A gamma T variant of fetal hemoglobin in newborn babies from several countries.

The gamma chain compositions of the fetal hemoglobins of 2453 newborn babies from East Asian countries (1350 babies), from Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Georgia (417 Caucasian babies), and 686 black babies from Georgia were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. Unusual results for a limited number of babies were confirmed by chemical analyses, and were evaluated further by family studies. Statistical analyses indicated high gene frequencies for the A gamma T chain in Italian (f = 0.237), Yugoslavian and Bulgarian (f = 0.238), and white Georgia babies (f = 0.224), a lower frequency in Japan (f = 0.178), and India (f = 0.173), and particularly in mainland China (f = 0.079). The A gamma T gene frequency in normal (AA) Black babies was 0.102. When a beta S or beta C mutation was also present this frequency was greatly decreased, particularly in babies with the AC condition (f = 0.036). These results suggest the near absence of the A gamma T mutation on the chromosome also carrying the beta C determinant. Most babies had the expected G gamma values which vary between 60 and 80%, but several (mainly black) babies had higher values (between 80 and 90%), while one normal black baby had a G gamma value of (nearly) 100%. This condition may be a form of A gamma +1-thalassemia and has been discussed in detail elsewhere (Blood 58:491-500, 1981). Thirty-five clinically normal (mainly Chinese, Indian, and Japanese) babies had G gamma values of about 40%. Twenty-six babies had A gamma I values of about 60%, while the remaining nine babies had A gamma T and A gamma I chains in a ratio of either 1 to 2 or 1 to 1. Two additional newborns did not produce any G gamma chains, but had only A gamma I chains or A gamma T chains. Family studies failed to indicate a specific hematological abnormality. These unusual ratios between the G gamma and A gamma (either A gamma I or A gamma T) chains have led to speculations regarding possible genetic abnormalities present in these infants.