BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHemoglobin C diseaseClinical hemoglobin CHemoglobin C disease is a blood disorder passed down through families. It leads to a type of anemia, which occurs when red blood cells break down earlier than normal.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Hemoglobin C is an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is a type of hemoglobinopathy. The disease is caused by a problem with a gene called beta globin.The disease most often occurs in African Americans. You are more likely to have hemoglobin C disease if someone in your family has had it. Symptoms Most people do not have symptoms. In some cases, jaundice may occur. Some people may develop gallstones that need to be treated.JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GallstonesGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show an enlarged spleen.Enlarged spleenSplenomegaly is a larger-than-normal spleen. The spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tests that may be done include:Complete blood count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hemoglobin electrophoresis Hemoglobin electrophoresisHemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. It is present inside the red blood cells. Hemoglobin electrophoresis measures the levels ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Peripheral blood smear Peripheral blood smearA blood smear is a blood test that gives information about the number and shape of blood cells. It is often done as part of or along with a complete...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood hemoglobinBlood hemoglobinSerum free hemoglobin is a blood test that measures the level of free hemoglobin in the liquid part of the blood (the serum). Free hemoglobin is the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment In most cases, no treatment is needed. Folic acid supplements may help your body produce normal red blood cells and improve the symptoms of the anemia. Outlook (Prognosis) People with hemoglobin C disease can expect to lead a normal life. Possible Complications Complications may include: Anemia Gallbladder disease Enlargement of the spleen When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of hemoglobin C disease. Prevention You may want to seek genetic counseling if you are at high risk for the condition and are considering having a baby.Open ReferencesReferencesHoward J. Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 154.Smith-Whitley K, Kwiatkowski JL. Hemoglobinopathies. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 489.So JCC, Ma ESK. Hemoglobin and hemoglobinopathies. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 77.Wilson CS, Vergara-Lluri ME, Brynes RK. Evaluation of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. In: Jaffe ES, Arber DA, Campo E, Harris NL, Quintanilla-Martinez L, eds. Hematopathology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 11.AllVideoImagesTogBlood cells - illustration Blood is comprised of red blood cells, platelets, and various white blood cells.Blood cellsillustrationBlood cells - illustration Blood is comprised of red blood cells, platelets, and various white blood cells.Blood cellsillustration Tests for Hemoglobin C disease HemoglobinHemoglobin electrophoresisSerum free hemoglobin testHemoglobinuria testA1C testRelated Information Anemia(Condition)Hemoglobinopathy(Condition)Gallstones(Condition)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Gallstones and gallbladder disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/25/2022 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Hemoglobin C diseaseClinical hemoglobin CHemoglobin C disease is a blood disorder passed down through families. It leads to a type of anemia, which occurs when red blood cells break down earlier than normal.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Hemoglobin C is an abnormal type of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is a type of hemoglobinopathy. The disease is caused by a problem with a gene called beta globin.The disease most often occurs in African Americans. You are more likely to have hemoglobin C disease if someone in your family has had it. Symptoms Most people do not have symptoms. In some cases, jaundice may occur. Some people may develop gallstones that need to be treated.JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article GallstonesGallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. These may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show an enlarged spleen.Enlarged spleenSplenomegaly is a larger-than-normal spleen. The spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Tests that may be done include:Complete blood count Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hemoglobin electrophoresis Hemoglobin electrophoresisHemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. It is present inside the red blood cells. Hemoglobin electrophoresis measures the levels ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Peripheral blood smear Peripheral blood smearA blood smear is a blood test that gives information about the number and shape of blood cells. It is often done as part of or along with a complete...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood hemoglobinBlood hemoglobinSerum free hemoglobin is a blood test that measures the level of free hemoglobin in the liquid part of the blood (the serum). Free hemoglobin is the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment In most cases, no treatment is needed. Folic acid supplements may help your body produce normal red blood cells and improve the symptoms of the anemia. Outlook (Prognosis) People with hemoglobin C disease can expect to lead a normal life. Possible Complications Complications may include: Anemia Gallbladder disease Enlargement of the spleen When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of hemoglobin C disease. Prevention You may want to seek genetic counseling if you are at high risk for the condition and are considering having a baby.Open ReferencesReferencesHoward J. Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 154.Smith-Whitley K, Kwiatkowski JL. Hemoglobinopathies. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 489.So JCC, Ma ESK. Hemoglobin and hemoglobinopathies. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 77.Wilson CS, Vergara-Lluri ME, Brynes RK. Evaluation of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. In: Jaffe ES, Arber DA, Campo E, Harris NL, Quintanilla-Martinez L, eds. Hematopathology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 11.