Hemoglobin G-Philadelphia/S: A Family Study of an Inherited Hybrid Hemoglobin

Twenty-three members of a family were studied for the presence of hemoglobin G-Philadelphia/S. Seven had hemoglobin A, four had sickle trait (AS), two had G-Philadelphia trait (AG), eight were “double traits” (A, S, G, and G/S), and two had sickle cell anemia plus hybrid hemoglobin G-Philadelphia/S. Only two families with hemoglobin G/S have been described previously, and only one person with a G/S hybrid in combination with a homozygous beta S defect has been reported. We believe that the G-Philadelphia/S hybrid is more common than suggested by reports in the literature. The electrophoresis patterns in this family are sufficiently characteristic to at least suggest the presence of hemoglobin G/S. As more examples of this hybrid hemoglobin are recognized and examined, the percentages obtained for the combined hemoglobin G/S and hemoglobin A2 band may prove sufficiently characteristic to provide for its recognition with commonly available electrophoretic technics.