Thalassemia major phenotype caused by HB Zürich-Albisrieden [α2 59(E8) Gly > Arg (HBA2:C.178G > C)] in a Brazilian child

Hemoglobin (Hb) Zurich-Albisrieden (ZA) [α2 59(E8) Gly > Arg; HBA2:c.178G > C] is a rare and highly unstable α-chain variant. A few simple and compound heterozygotes (αZA α/αα and -/αZA α, respectively) have been described so far in Switzerland and China. We describe here a case of homozygosity for the Hb ZA mutation (αZA α/αZA α) in a Brazilian child with severe congenital hemolytic anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis.