[Hemoglobin S frequency in five Mexican populations and its importance in public health].
OBJECTIVE
To provide information regarding the heterozygote frequency for hemoglobin S (HbS) in five Mexican populations, the Haplotype in five S chromosomes, and underscore its importance for public health.


METHODS
A total of 162 samples from three Nahua populations (Atocpan and Tlacotenco, DF, and Ixhuatlancillo, Veracruz) and 131 from mestizo populations (Coyolillo and Poza Rica, Veracruz) were studied after obtaining informed consent. The hemoglobin type was determined by electrophoresis, and DNA in leucocytes was obtained from five HbS samples. The haplotype was determined by PCR and cut with restrictases, according to literature.


RESULTS
We found one heterozygote for hemoglobin S (0.6%) among Nahua and 18 among Mestizo groups (13.7%). Four haplotypes were Bantu and one was Benin.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are important to public health for populations with a high frequency of HbS, to inform and provide genetic counseling for carriers and medical attention to patients.
Peñaloza-Espinosa
Rosenda I
RI
UIM Genética Humana, Centro Médico Nacional SXXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, DF, México. rosenda@servidor.unam.mx
Buentello-Malo
Leonor
L
Hernández-Maya
M Arcelia
MA
Nieva-García
Beatriz
B
Lisker-Yurkowitzki
Rubén
R
Salamanca-Gómez
Fabio
F
D006239:Haplotypes; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011634:Public Health
D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle