Foetal haemoglobin levels in sickle cell anaemia in Nigerians

Abstract

Many patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are known to synthesize increased amounts of foetal haemoglobin (Hb F). In some situations, the levels attained are so high that the course of the disease is ameliorated since Hb F does not participate in the polymerization process characteristic of the sickling phenomenon. It has also been reported that the simultaneous inheritance of an α-thalassaemia gene reduces the severity of SCA. We have examined the levels of Hb F in relation to the erythrocyte indices and the coinheritance of the deletion type a-thalassaemin in SCA patients in Nigeria. The concentration of Hb F in peripheral blood was measured by the alkali denaturation technique of Betke et al. (15), whilst erythrocyte indices were determined o n a Coulter S plus II counter. Alpha-thalassaemia was detected by the restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA obtained from peripheral white blood cells (WBC) and nucleated red cells using a-globin gene-specific probes.