Letters to Editor Finally, despite the limitations of our study, we suggest that the survival of patients with lymphoid and myeloid neoplasm subtypes achieved at services that comprise the GOHV represent what is expected according to the literature. References 1. Callera F, Vital Brasil AA, Casali AR, Mulin CC, Rosa ES, Barbosa MA, et al. Oncohematological diseases in the Vale do Paraíba, State of São Paulo: demographic aspects, prevalences and incidences. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2011;33(2):120-5. 2. Head DR, Cerezo L, Savage RA, Craven CM, Bickers JN, Hartsock R, et al. Institutional performance in application of the FAB classification of acute leukemia. The Southwest Oncology Group experience. Cancer. 1985;55(9);1979-86. xxx 3. Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Diebold J, Flandrin G, Muller-Hermelink HK, Vardiman J. Lymphoma classification: from controversy to consensus. The R.E.A.L. and WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Ann Oncol. 2000;11 Suppl 1:3-10. 4. Marcos-Gragera R, Allemani C, Tereanu C, De Angelis R, Capocaccia R, Maynadie M, Luminari S, Ferretti S, Johannesen TB, Sankila R, Karjalainen-Lindsberg ML, Simonetti A, Martos MC, Raphaël M, Giraldo P, Sant M; HAEMACARE Working Group. Survival of European patients diagnosed with lymphoid neoplasms in 2000-2002: results of the HAEMACARE project. Haematologica. 2011; 96(5):720-8. 5. Maynadié M, Girodon F, Manivet-Janoray I, Mounier M, Mugneret F, Bailly F, et al. Twenty-five years of epidemiological recording on myeloid malignancies: data from the specialized registry of hematologic malignancies of Côte D'or (Burgundy, France). Haematologica. 2011;96(1):55-61. Comparing electrophoresis at alkaline pH and high performance liquid chromatography to diagnose Hb S-like hemoglobin Renan Gracia de Oliveira Paula Juliana Antoniazzo Zamaro Claudia Regina Bonini-Domingos Laboratory of Hemoglobin and Genetics of Hematological Diseases, Biology Department, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" – UNESP, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The authors declare no competing financial interest Submitted: 12/29/2011 Accepted: 7/2/2012 Corresponding author: Claudia Regina Bonini-Domingos Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Hemoglobinas e Genética das Doenças Hematológicas, Unesp Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 – Jd. Nazareth 15041-000 –São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil claudiabonini@yahoo.com.br www.rbhh.org or www.scielo.br/rbhh DOI: 10.5581/1516-8484.20120039 170 Hemoglobin (Hb) variants are caused by point mutations, usually characterized by a change in the nucleotide sequence, resulting in an amino acid substitution in the globin chain. Due to the high genetic variability of the Brazilian population, several cases of rare Hb variants have been reported; the most common are known as 'Hb S-like', defined because the electrophoretic profile is similar to that of Hb S.(1) Some examples of these specific variants in the population are Hb D- Los Angeles, Hb Korle-Bu, Hb Hasharon and Hb Lepore.(2,3) Given this diversity, there is a need for accurate Hb identification to assist therapeutic and counseling procedures. This paper is intended to alert professionals who work with the diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies of the importance of precise characterization of rare Hb variants, in particular S-like Hb that, by classical diagnostic methods, may be mistakenly classified as Hb S. We analyzed 838 peripheral blood samples collected in EDTA in the period from January to June 2011 of patients suspected of having anemia. After informed consent, the samples were submitted to classical diagnostic procedures including electrophoresis at alkaline pH in an automated hemoglobin analyzer (Bio-Rad Variant®) using the Short β-Thalassemia Program. Figure 1 – Percentage of hemoglobin variants found, which migrate to the same position of Hb S (Hb S-like) by electrophoresis at alkaline pH Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2012;34(2):168-71