An investigation of the protective effect of alpha plus -thalassaemia against severe Plasmodium falciparum amongst children in Kumasi, Ghana

作者：Opoku Okrah C; Gordge M; Nakua E Kweku; Agbenyega T; Parry M; Robertson C; Smith C L^*

来源：International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, 2014, 36(1): 62-70.

DOI：10.1111/ijlh.12122

• Malaria
• alpha thalassemia
• West Africa
• microcytosis
• severe anaemia

Introduction: Several factors influence the severity of Plasmodium falciparum; here, we investigate the impact of alpha+-thalassaemia genotype on P.falciparum parasitemia and prevalence of severe anaemia amongst microcytic children from Kumasi, Ghana.
Methods: Seven hundred and thirty-two children (10years) with P.falciparum were categorised into normocytic and microcytic (mean cell volume 76fL). Microcytic individuals were genotyped for the -(3.7)deletional thalassaemia mutation and parasite densities determined.
Results: Amongst microcytic patients both parasite densities and prevalence of severe malaria parasitemia (100000/L) were significantly lower (P<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 P.falciparum parasitemia did not change with increasing age.
Conclusion: The severity of P.falciparum 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.

• 出版日期2014-2