hemoglobin /he·mo·glo·bin/ (he´mo-glo″bin) the oxygen-carrying pigment of erythrocytes, formed by developing erythrocytes in the bone marrow; a hemoprotein made up of four different polypeptide globin chains that contain between 141 and 146 amino acids. Hemoglobin A is normal adult hemoglobin and hemoglobin F is fetal hemoglobin. Many abnormal hemoglobins have been reported; the first were given capital letters such as hemoglobin E, H, M, and S, and later ones have been named for the place of discovery. Homozygosity for hemoglobin S results in sickle cell anemia, heterozygosity in sickle cell trait. Symbol Hb.
Hemoglobin (Hb)
hemoglobin (Hb, Hgb)
hemoglobin [he´mo-glo″bin]
fetal hemoglobin that forming more than half of the hemoglobin of the fetus, present in minimal amounts in adults and abnormally elevated in certain blood disorders.
mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) the average hemoglobin content of an erythrocyte.
muscle hemoglobin myoglobin.
reduced hemoglobin that not combined with oxygen.
hemoglobin S the most common abnormal hemoglobin, with valine substituted for glutamic acid at position six of the beta chain, resulting in the abnormal erythrocytes called sickle cells, and causing sickle cell anemia.
he·mo·glo·bin (h  m -gl  b n)n. Abbr. Hb, Hgb The red respiratory protein of red blood cells that transports oxygen as oxyhemoglobin from the lungs to the tissues, where the oxygen is readily released and the oxyhemoglobin becomes hemoglobin. |
Hemoglobin (Hb)
An iron-containing pigment of red blood cells composed of four amino acid chains (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) that delivers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body.
Mentioned in: Anemias, Anoxia, Antianemia Drugs, Biliary Atresia, Blood Gas Analysis, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Coombs' Tests, Cyanosis, Erythroblastosis Fetalis, Haptoglobin Test, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin Test, Hemoglobinopathies, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Jaundice, Liposuction, Multiple Myeloma, Neonatal Jaundice, Platelet Function Disorders, Porphyrias, Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassemia, 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate Test
hemoglobin (Hb, Hgb)
[hē′məglō′bən]
Etymology: Gk, haima + L, globus, ball
a complex protein-iron compound in the blood that carries oxygen to the cells from the lungs and carbon dioxide away from the cells to the lungs. Each erythrocyte contains 200 to 300 molecules of hemoglobin, each molecule of hemoglobin contains four groups of heme, and each group of heme can carry one molecule of oxygen. A hemoglobin molecule contains four globin polypeptide chains composed of amino acids. Each polypeptide chain is composed of 141 to 146 amino acids. The absence, replacement, or addition of only one amino acid modifies the properties of the hemoglobin. Different kinds of hemoglobin are identified by their specific combination of polypeptide chains. Those found most often are alpha and beta chains, with gamma and delta being found less often. The number of chains of the different types in the molecule is indicated by subscript numerals and superscript capital letters. Improved research methods may reveal many more. The normal concentrations of hemoglobin in the blood are 12 to 16 g/dL in women and 13.5 to 18 g/dL in men. In an atmosphere of high oxygen concentration, such as in the lungs, hemoglobin binds with oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin. In an atmosphere of low oxygen concentration, such as in the peripheral tissues of the body, oxygen is replaced by carbon dioxide to form carboxyhemoglobin. Hemoglobin releases the carboxyhemoglobin in the lungs for excretion and picks up more oxygen for transport to the cells. Also spelled haemoglobin. See also carboxyhemoglobin, complete blood count, differential white blood cell count, erythrocyte, erythropoiesis, heme, hemoglobinopathy, hemolysin, oxyhemoglobin.
hemoglobin [he´mo-glo″bin]
the main functional constituent of the red blood cell, serving as the oxygen-carrying protein; it is a type of hemoprotein in which each molecule is a tetramer composed of four monomers held together by weak bonds. It consists of two pairs of polypeptide chains, the globins, each having an attached heme molecule composed of iron plus a protoporphyrin molecule. Symbol Hb.
Oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) is bright red in color; hemoglobin unbound to oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin) is darker. This accounts for the bright red color of arterial blood, in which the hemoglobin is about 97 per cent saturated with oxygen. Venous blood is darker because it is only about 20 to 70 per cent saturated, depending on how much oxygen is being used by the tissues. The affinity of hemoglobin for carbon monoxide is 210 times as strong as its affinity for oxygen. The complex formed (carboxyhemoglobin) cannot transport oxygen. Thus, carbon monoxide poisoning results in hypoxia and asphyxiation.
Another form of hemoglobin that cannot transport oxygen is methemoglobin, in which the iron atom is oxidized to the +3 oxidation state. During the 120-day life span of a red blood cell, hemoglobin is slowly oxidized to methemoglobin. At least four different enzyme systems can convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin. When these are defective or overloaded, methemoglobinemia can result, with high methemoglobin levels causing dyspnea and cyanosis.
A secondary function of hemoglobin is as part of the blood buffer system. The histidine residues in the globin chains act as weak bases to minimize the change in blood pH that occurs as oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide released in the lungs and as oxygen is delivered and carbon dioxide taken up from the tissues.
As erythrocytes wear out or are damaged, they are ingested by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. The porphyrin ring of heme is converted to the bile pigment bilirubin, which is excreted by the liver. The iron is transported to the bone marrow to be incorporated in the hemoglobin of newly formed erythrocytes.
The hemoglobin concentration of blood varies with the hematocrit. The normal values for the blood hemoglobin concentration are 13.5 to 18.0 g/100 ml in males and 12.0 to 16.0 g/100 ml in females. The normal mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, which is the concentration within the red blood cells, is 32 to 36 g/100 ml.
Chemistry and Physiology.
The iron atom has a free valence and can bind one molecule of oxygen. Thus, each hemoglobin molecule can bind one molecule of oxygen. The binding of oxygen by one monomer increases the affinity for oxygen of the others in the tetramer. This makes hemoglobin a more efficient transport protein than a monomeric protein such as myoglobin. Oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) is bright red in color; hemoglobin unbound to oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin) is darker. This accounts for the bright red color of arterial blood, in which the hemoglobin is about 97 per cent saturated with oxygen. Venous blood is darker because it is only about 20 to 70 per cent saturated, depending on how much oxygen is being used by the tissues. The affinity of hemoglobin for carbon monoxide is 210 times as strong as its affinity for oxygen. The complex formed (carboxyhemoglobin) cannot transport oxygen. Thus, carbon monoxide poisoning results in hypoxia and asphyxiation.
Another form of hemoglobin that cannot transport oxygen is methemoglobin, in which the iron atom is oxidized to the +3 oxidation state. During the 120-day life span of a red blood cell, hemoglobin is slowly oxidized to methemoglobin. At least four different enzyme systems can convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin. When these are defective or overloaded, methemoglobinemia can result, with high methemoglobin levels causing dyspnea and cyanosis.
A secondary function of hemoglobin is as part of the blood buffer system. The histidine residues in the globin chains act as weak bases to minimize the change in blood pH that occurs as oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide released in the lungs and as oxygen is delivered and carbon dioxide taken up from the tissues.
As erythrocytes wear out or are damaged, they are ingested by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. The porphyrin ring of heme is converted to the bile pigment bilirubin, which is excreted by the liver. The iron is transported to the bone marrow to be incorporated in the hemoglobin of newly formed erythrocytes.
The hemoglobin concentration of blood varies with the hematocrit. The normal values for the blood hemoglobin concentration are 13.5 to 18.0 g/100 ml in males and 12.0 to 16.0 g/100 ml in females. The normal mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, which is the concentration within the red blood cells, is 32 to 36 g/100 ml.
Variant and Abnormal Hemoglobins. There are six different types of globin chains, designated by the Greek letters α, β, γ, δ, ε, and ζ. The composition of a hemoglobin is specified by a formula such as α2β2, which indicates a tetramer containing two α chains and two β chains. The chains are coded by different genes, which are turned on and off during development in order to produce hemoglobins with the oxygen-carrying properties required at each developmental stage. In the first three months of embryonic development, when blood cells are produced in the yolk sac, embryonic hemoglobins such as Hb Gower (α2Aε2) or Hb Portland (ζ2γ2) are produced. As erythropoiesis shifts to the liver and spleen, the fetal hemoglobin Hb F (α2γ2) appears. When erythropoiesis shifts to the bone marrow during the first year of life, the adult hemoglobins Hb A (α2β2) and Hb A2 (α2δ2) begin to be produced.
Many abnormal hemoglobins arising from mutations have been discovered. Some have altered oxygen affinity, some are unstable, and in some the iron atom is oxidized, resulting in congenital methemoglobinemia. Some mutations result in a reduced rate of hemoglobin synthesis. All such conditions are known as hemoglobinopathies.
The most common hemoglobinopathy is sickle cell disease, caused by a mutation replacing the sixth amino acid in the β chain, normally glutamic acid, by valine. The variant hemoglobin α2βS2 is known as Hb S. Mutations resulting in reduced synthesis of one of the chains are called thalassemias. They can result from deletion of the gene for a chain or from a mutation in the regulatory gene that controls the synthesis of the chain.
Many abnormal hemoglobins arising from mutations have been discovered. Some have altered oxygen affinity, some are unstable, and in some the iron atom is oxidized, resulting in congenital methemoglobinemia. Some mutations result in a reduced rate of hemoglobin synthesis. All such conditions are known as hemoglobinopathies.
The most common hemoglobinopathy is sickle cell disease, caused by a mutation replacing the sixth amino acid in the β chain, normally glutamic acid, by valine. The variant hemoglobin α2βS2 is known as Hb S. Mutations resulting in reduced synthesis of one of the chains are called thalassemias. They can result from deletion of the gene for a chain or from a mutation in the regulatory gene that controls the synthesis of the chain.
The life cycle of red blood cells and the breakdown of hemoglobin. From Polaski and Tatro, 1996.
hemoglobin A1c hemoglobin A with a glucose group attached to the amino terminal of the beta chain; it is made at a slow constant rate during the 120-day life span of the erythrocyte. It accounts for 3 to 6 per cent of the total hemoglobin in a normal person and up to 12 per cent in persons with diabetes mellitus. Increased levels correlate with glucose intolerance in diabetics; with good diabetic control its level returns to normal range, so that periodic assays can be helpful in evaluating effective control of diabetes.
glycated hemoglobin (glycosylated hemoglobin) any of various hemoglobins with glucose attached nonenzymatically; the most common one is hemoglobin A1c. The percentage of hemoglobin that is glycosylated can be assessed over a long period of time as a gauge of blood sugar control; the normal range for a nondiabetic person is between 4 and 6 per cent.
mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) the average hemoglobin content of an erythrocyte, conventionally expressed in picograms per red cell, obtained by multiplying the blood hemoglobin concentration (in g/dl) by 10 and dividing by the red cell count (in millions per ml): MCH = Hb/RBC.
hemoglobin,
n a protein-iron compound in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to body cells. The normal hemoglobin levels in the blood are 12 to 16 g/dL in women and 13.5 to 18 g/dL in men.
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Hemoglobin.
hemoglobin (hē´mōglōbin),
n the oxygen-carrying red pigment of the red blood corpuscles. It is a reddish, crystallizable conjugated protein consisting of the protein globulin combined with the prosthetic group, heme.
hemoglobin A (HBA),
n a normal hemoglobin. Also called
adult hemoglobin.
adult hemoglobin.
hemoglobin estimation,
n a determination of the hemoglobin content of the blood. By the Sahli method, 14 to 17 g/100 mL of blood is normal, and 15.1 Sahli units are taken as 100% for estimation of hemoglobin percentages.
hemoglobin
an allosteric protein found in erythrocytes that transports molecular oxygen (O2) in the blood. Symbol Hb.
Oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) is bright red in color; hemoglobin unbound to oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin) is darker. This accounts for the bright red color of arterial blood, in which the hemoglobin is about 97% saturated with oxygen. Venous blood is darker because it is only about 20-70% saturated, depending on how much oxygen is being used by the tissues.
The affinity of hemoglobin for carbon monoxide is 210 times as strong as its affinity for oxygen. The complex formed (carboxyhemoglobin) cannot transport oxygen. Thus, carbon monoxide poisoning results in hypoxia and asphyxiation.
Another form of hemoglobin that cannot transport oxygen is methemoglobin, in which the iron atom is oxidized to the +3 oxidation state. During the life span of a red cell, hemoglobin is slowly oxidized to methemoglobin. At least four different enzyme systems can convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin. When these are defective or overloaded, methemoglobinemia, in which high methemoglobin levels cause dyspnea and cyanosis, may result.
As red cells wear out or are damaged, they are ingested by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system. The porphyrin ring of heme is converted to the bile pigment bilirubin, which is excreted by the liver. The iron is transported to the bone marrow to be incorporated in the hemoglobin of newly formed erythrocytes.
hemoglobin A1c
see glycosylated hemoglobin (below).
carcass hemoglobin tests
include hemoglobin extraction test, hemoglobin-pseudoperoxidase test. Used on suspect meat to determine if it has been properly bled out; poor bleeding is an indication of fever or septicemia.
hemoglobin concentration
varies with the hematocrit; determined by several methods. Assesses the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
cyanotic hemoglobin malformations
insufficient oxygenated hemoglobin is received in the peripheral capillary beds resulting in blue discoloration of tissues, and an incapacity of the body to maintain a life-sustaining level of activity.
glycosylated hemoglobin
hemoglobin A with a glucose moiety attached to the amino terminal valine of the beta chain. This type of hemoglobin is made at a slow constant rate during the life span of the erythrocyte. Increased levels correlate with glucose intolerance in diabetes. With adequate insulin treatment, levels return to the normal range and periodic assays can be helpful in evaluating effective control of diabetes mellitus. Called also hemoglobin A1c.
glycosylated hemoglobin test
measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin A molecules that formed a stable ketoamine linkage between the amino terminal valine residue of the beta chain and a glucose moiety; used to assess diabetic control.
hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve
the incremental increase in oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin with each unit increase of the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood. Any factor that shifts the curve to the right will automatically reduce the concentration of O2 held by the hemoglobin and increase the rate of its delivery to tissues.
urine hemoglobin
see hemoglobinuria.
hemoglobin variants
the globin part of hemoglobin is composed of a large number of amino acids and the hemoglobins are therefore susceptible to a great many variations. In humans a large number of variants have been identified but only a few in animals and none are deleterious. The identified ones are the three adult hemoglobin types, HbA, HbB and HbC. There is also an embryonic, HbE, and a fetal hemoglobin, HbF.
hemoglobin
Hb Physiology A tetrameric 64 kD protein that is the major constituent of RBCs, which transports O2, and buffers CO2 produced by respiration; Hb transports O2 and CO2 and which comprises
99% of the protein weight of RBCs; it is composed of 2 α chains, each 141 amino acids in length, encoded from the zeta chain gene on chromosome 16 and 2 β chains, each 144 amino acids in length, encoded from the contiguous eta, Gγ,
Aγ and delta chain genes on chromosome 11 Forms of Hb HbF is formed in the fetus and is the major Hb until birth; at birth up to 30% of the hemoglobin is HbA; most adult Hb is HbA with small amounts of HbF and HbA2; Hb defects are
inherited and termed hemoglobinopathies. See Carboxyhemoglobin, Chemically modified hemoglobin, Fetal hemoglobin, Reduced hemoglobin.
Patient discussion about hemoglobin.
Q. What is the Definition of Anemia? My doctor told me I have anemia, based on my latest blood tests. What is anemia?
A. Anemia is defined as a deficiency of hemoglobin, a molecule inside the red blood cells (RBC's). The hemoglobin is responsible for carrying the oxygen that we breath from the lungs to the body tissues. Anemia causes lack of oxygen in the organs, in different degrees. A regular blood test can discover anemia, simply if the hemoglobin (Hb) level is lower than 13.0 g/dL in adult men and lower than 12.0 g/dL in adult women. The blood test can also suggest on the cause of the anemia, depending on other values that can be measured.
Q. Can Jantoven cause hemoglobin to drop?
A. Yes. In that case, you may consider consulting a doctor, since it may result from bleeding that may necessitate treatment.
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