Beta thalassaemia in Nigeria: myth or fact?
Kotila, T.R.
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 42(3): 261-264
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0309-3913 PMID: 24579388 Document Number: 667368
The high prevalence of sickle cell disorders and the mild deletional á-thalassaemia among Nigerians is well known, but â-thalassaemia is believed to be almost nonexistent. Beta thalassaemia trait (BTT) was screened for in patients with unexplained recurrent haemolytic anaemia and healthy individuals. â-thalassaemia trait (BTT) was screened for using MCH and HbA2 of 27 pg and 3.5% respectively as cut off in 151 Nigerians which included 29 patients and 122 apparently healthy individuals. The subjects were categorized into four, Group I (high HbA2, low MCH), Group II (low HbA2 and MCH), Group III (high HbA2 and high/normal MCH) and Group IV (normal HbA2 and MCH). Group I are possible carriers of BTT while group IV are least likely to carry either alpha or beta thalassaemia genes. There were 36 (26%), 39 (28%), 27 (19%) and 38 (27%) in groups I-IV respectively. The mean MCH, MCV, haematocrit and HbA, for the study population were 26 +/- 2.8, 81 +/- 7.9, 37.5 +/- 6.8 and 3.4 +/- 1.7 respectively. The mean MCV and haematocrit were significantly lower for group I compared to group IV (76.9 Vs. 86.6, p=0.00) and (36.5Vs39.7, p=0.03) respectively. Group II had significantly lower MCV and haematocrit than group IV (75.4 (p=0.00) and 36.4 (p=0.01) respectively. There was a positive correlation between the MCH and MCV with the haematocrit (p=0.004, p=0.001 respectively) but HbA2 showed a stronger negative correlation with the haematocrit (p<0.0001). This does not only show the presence of BTT, but a higher prevalence than previously thought, mutations responsible for it should therefore be characterized.