title: Heterogeneity of gamma-globin chain synthesis in Saudi newborns.
abstract: Cord blood samples from 655 unselected neonates born to Saudi mothers at King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were analysed to determine the levels of gamma-globin chains in Saudis. The percentage of three types of gamma-chains of human fetal hemoglobin (A gamma T, G gamma and A gamma I) was obtained by high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Although the majority of babies (631/655) had normal G gamma values in the range of 58-74%, there were only 69% with normal G gamma/A gamma ratio. The A gamma T chain or HbF Sardinia was present in 28% of the total neonates with a gene frequency of 0.160. The A gamma T values in this group ranged between 11-42%. Eight babies (1.2%) had G gamma levels 45% or less (mean 41 +/- 3%) and in 16 neonates (2.4%), G gamma values were highly elevated (mean 81.4 +/- 2.8%). The frequency of two G gamma-globin genes was 0.0061 and 0.0122, respectively, which is comparable with other ethnic or racial groups. The differences in G gamma to A gamma ratio in some Saudi babies could be due to an abnormal arrangement of gamma-globin genes of beta-globin gene cluster which is now being investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yaish
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kutlar
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Huisman
mesh_terms: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D005914:Globins; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin