Hemoglobin Barts

The hemoglobin Barts is composed of four gamma chains. It is poorly soluble and therefore accumulates in the red blood cells. In addition, it has an extremely high affinity for oxygen, which means that the fabric is almost no oxygen is present. Hemoglobin Barts is produced in a disease of α -thalassemia; in the most severe form of this disease, it is the only type of hemoglobin, which is still in the body. In this situation, a fetus hydrops fetalis would develop normally and die before or shortly after birth, unless there is an intrauterine blood transfusion performed.

Since hemoglobin Barts is increased by alpha- thalassemia, it can be very helpful as the measured value, for a useful screening test for this disease.

This variant of hemoglobin was so named because it was discovered at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. The hospital has earned the nickname " St. Barts ", so that one finally called the hemoglobin hemoglobin Barts.