Intraerythroblastic Instability of Hemoglobin β4 (Hgb H)

Abstract

Abstract The bone marrow of three cases of hemoglobin H disease was examined by vital staining with methyl violet. Intraerythroblastic precipitation of hemoglobin, presumably β-chains, was observed in varying degree in all three cases. The process has been studied in relation to erythroblastic maturation and the occurrence of precipitates during early stages of hemoglobin synthesis was demonstrated. The observations are discussed in relation to present-day knowledge concerning hemoglobin β4 and the α-thalassemias.