Hemoglobins in Togolese newborns: Hb S, Hb C, Hb Bart's, and alpha-globin gene status

The gene frequency of the most important hemoglobin (Hb) abnormalities is reported in a population of 171 Togolese newborns. Hb phenotypes, hematological parameters, and the more frequently described alpha-gene deletions were analyzed. Structural abnormalities of beta-globin were observed in 35.7% of the children with a gene frequency of 0.105 for beta(S) and 0.091 for beta(C). The frequency of the different alpha-globin genotypes was alpha alpha/ = 0.71, -alpha/ = 0.28, and alpha alpha alpha/ = 0.01. All of the individuals homozygous for the -alpha genotypes, and most of the heterozygous individuals, carried Hb Bart's. Within the alpha alpha/alpha alpha and the -alpha/alpha alpha groups, several individuals with or without Hb Bart's were found; they did not differ from the others by their red blood cell (RBC) parameters but by their levels of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F). The African alpha2 polymorphism marker, characterized by the replacement of G by TCGGCCC at position 7238 (EMBL HSHBA4, 1993) and of T 7174 by G, was found in 21 newborns. The mean value of Hb F was calculated for each genotype, the mean (G)gamma percentage was 69.4 +/- 4.0%, and the gene frequency of the AgammaT marker was 0.10; this marker was linked to the normal beta-globin cluster.