title: Reference range of serum haptoglobin is haptoglobin phenotype-dependent in blacks.
abstract: Reference values for serum haptoglobin (Hp), were established in a Black Zimbabwean population. The upper limit (2.15 g/l) is comparable to the one in Caucasians, but the lower limit (0.12 g/l) is much lower than the proposed interim international reference limit (0.3 g/l). Subjects that typed as Hp 0-0 by starch gel electrophoresis technique were retyped using high performance gel permeation chromatography. This resulted in a 32% decrease in the frequency of Hp 0-0, but an increase in Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1M phenotype frequencies. In the Zimbabwean Blacks, the Hp 0-0 frequency was estimated to be 2.9%. Haptoglobin reference values were found to be Hp phenotype-dependent; highest values were found in Hp 1-1 (median 0.88 g/l; range 0.31-1.69 g/l) and in Hp 2-1 (median 0.90 g/l; range 0.31-2.22 g/l) and lower values (median 0.66 g/l; range 0.13-1.79 g/l) in Hp 2-2 subjects. The Hp 2-1M phenotype was characterized by low reference values (0.18-1.25 g/l) (P<0.05). In three cases of the rare variant Hp Johnson, high Hp concentrations were found (median 1. 57 g/l; range 0.98-1.57 g/l).
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Chemical Pathology, Medical School, The University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kasvosve
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Gomo
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Gangaidzo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mvundura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saungweme
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Moyo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khumalo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Gordeuk
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People; D004592:Electrophoresis, Starch Gel; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins