Lebanese population: prevalence of the erythrocyte phenotypes.
OBJECTIVE
This survey was designed to be a descriptive study of the erythrocyte phenotype prevalence in Lebanon. The general aim was to provide transfusion centers and blood banks with the occurrence of the nation's erythrocyte phenotypes in the population they are serving. The results were descriptively compared to Caucasians.


METHODS
632 blood samples were collected from the Lebanese population in the 5 muhafazats (regions). Of which, 350 samples were extensively phenotyped for the blood group systems ABO, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Lewis, Lutheran and P; and 282 samples were selectively phenotyped for Fy(a), Fy(b) and Kp(a). Additionally, 3064 random blood donors were studied for the ABO and D blood groups.


RESULTS
With respect to the blood group phenotypes, the Lebanese are similar to the Caucasian population with the exception of rr, Le(b), Le (a-b-), Fy (a-b-), M+N+S-s+ and M-N-S-s+.


CONCLUSIONS
It is of scientific cognizance and interest that the Lebanese erythrocyte phenotypes closely resemble that of the Caucasians: nevertheless, certain novel differences are present, and possibly, there exists a phenotype that attributes to admixture of the African gene in a Middle Eastern population.
Baz
E M
EM
Dept of Pathology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. ek01@aub.edu.lb
Mahfouz
R A
RA
Tabarani
R S
RS
Ayoub
T H
TH
Zaatari
G S
GS
D018912:Arabs; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System