Haptoglobin Gene Polymorphism in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia: Findings from a Nigerian Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the various haptoglobin genotypes and their influence on the clinico-laboratory manifestations among young Nigerian sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients.

Patients and Methods

A total of 101 SCA patients and 64 controls were studied. SCA was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Haptoglobin genotype was determined by PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The patients' laboratory and clinical parameters were differentiated by haptoglobin genotypes.

Results

The Hp1 and Hp2 alleles frequencies were 0.62 and 0.38 in the patients and 0.73 and 0.27 in the controls, respectively, and these did not differ significantly (p>0.05). The haptoglobin genotype distribution among the patients and controls were Hp1-1, 43 (42.6%); Hp2-1, 40 (39.6%); Hp2-2, 18 (17.8%) and Hp1-1, 35 (54.7%); Hp2-1, 24 (37.5%); Hp2-2, 5 (7.8%), respectively, with no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant difference was found in the clinical events and laboratory parameters of the patients when partitioned according to the various haptoglobin genotypes (P> 0.05).

Conclusion

This study found that haptoglobin gene polymorphism does not have a significant influence on the clinico-laboratory manifestations among SCA patients.

Keywords:

• haptoglobin gene polymorphism
• sickle cell disease
• clinico-laboratory manifestations

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge with thanks, the laboratory supports provided by Prof A.G Falusi of the University of Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. The authors also thank the participants and their parents for their supports during the study.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants No 2014/00984-3 from the São Paulo Research Foundation, and grants No 2015/141693-0 from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil.