An investigation of the protective effect of alpha+‐thalassaemia against severe Plasmodium falciparum amongst children in Kumasi, Ghana. (10th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Opoku‐Okrah, C.; Gordge, M.; Kweku Nakua, E.; Abgenyega, T.; Parry, M.; Robertson, C.; Smith, C. L.
• Is Part Of: International journal of laboratory hematology. Volume 36:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2013-07-10
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-5521

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ijlh12122-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ijlh12122-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Several factors influence the severity of <italic>Plasmodium falciparum</italic>; here, we investigate the impact of alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype on <italic>P. falciparum</italic> parasitemia and prevalence of severe anaemia amongst microcytic children from Kumasi, Ghana.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12122-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Seven hundred and thirty‐two children (≤10 years) with <italic>P. falciparum</italic> were categorised into normocytic and microcytic (mean cell volume ≤76 fL). Microcytic individuals were genotyped for the −α<sup>3.7</sup>deletional thalassaemia mutation and parasite densities determined.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12122-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Amongst microcytic patients both parasite densities and prevalence of severe malaria parasitemia (≥100 000/μL) were significantly lower (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) in the presence of an alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype compared with non‐alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype. There was no evidence that alpha+‐thalassaemia protected against severe anaemia. The protection conferred by alpha‐thalassaemia genotype against severe <italic>P. falciparum</italic> parasitemia did not change with increasing age.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12122-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The severity of <italic>P. falciparum</italic> parasitemia was significantly lower in both the homozygous and heterozygous alpha+‐thalassaemia groups compared with microcytic individuals with non‐alpha+‐thalassaemia genotype. The protective effect, from severe malaria, of the alpha+‐thalassaemia allele does not alter with age.</p> </sec> </abstract>