Different cell volume with high target cell population between liver disease and homozygous hemoglobin E

Blood samples with increased percentage of target cells were collected from liver disease, thalassemia, homozygous hemoglobin E (E/E), and nonidentified cases. Normal cases who had no history of liver disease and normal hemoglobin typing were also included in the study for control. Patients with liver disease had increased target cell percentage with normal MCV, whereas, the other three groups had increased target cell percentage and reduced MCV. The difference was more obvious when compared with liver disease and homozygous Hb E cases. These two groups had comparable target cell percentage (14.36 +/- 4.77 in liver disease, and 14.22 +/- 1.59 in homozygous Hb E) and comparable degree of anemia (Hb level in liver disease = 11.19 +/- 0.39, and 11.30 +/- 0.16 in homozygous Hb E) but they showed a statistical significance (p less than 0.0001) between MCV (79.66 +/- 2.18 fL in liver disease, and 60.40 +/- 0.75 fL in homozygous Hb E).