title: Haemoglobin F, A2, and S levels in subjects with or without sickle cell trait in south-eastern Gabon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infant mortality due to sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa is high, necessitating a better understanding of the modulating factors of the disease in this region.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin and α-thalassemia. We diagnosed 787 subjects, with or without sickle cell trait, by capillary electrophoresis in the Medical Diagnostic Laboratory of the CIRMF (Franceville, Gabon).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heterocellular and pancellular forms of hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin occurred at low rates of 10.9 and 2.3%, respectively. The distribution of HbS levels in individuals with sickle cell trait was trimodal, showing a high percentage (52.4%) of heterozygous subjects with α-thalassemia. The distribution of HbA2 levels was bimodal in individuals without sickle cell trait, estimated to be comprised of 12 and 15% of α and β-thalassemic heterozygous subjects, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sub-Saharan Africa, α-thalassemia is a far more prevalent modulating factor than hereditary persistence of foetal haemoglobin. Our study highlights the need for further investigation of thalassemia, haemoglobinopathies that are neglected in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (LABMC) , Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Landry-Erik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Mombo
authors.affiliation: a Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (LABMC) , Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM) , Franceville , Gabon.|b Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) , Unité de Recherches et d'Analyses Médicales (URAM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Gaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mabioko-Mbembo
authors.affiliation: b Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) , Unité de Recherches et d'Analyses Médicales (URAM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Roland-Fabrice
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Kassa-Kassa
authors.affiliation: b Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) , Unité de Recherches et d'Analyses Médicales (URAM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ontsitsagui
authors.affiliation: b Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) , Unité de Recherches et d'Analyses Médicales (URAM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Statiana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mboui-Ondo
authors.affiliation: a Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (LABMC) , Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM) , Franceville , Gabon.|c Centre Hospitalier Régional Amissa Bongo (CHRAB) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Leatitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nzé-Kamsi
authors.affiliation: b Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) , Unité de Recherches et d'Analyses Médicales (URAM) , Franceville , Gabon.
authors.forename: Dieudonné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nkoghé
authors.affiliation: d UMR Inserm U1134-Université Paris Diderot/USCP , Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine , Paris , France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elion
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005681:Gabon; D006443:Hemoglobin A2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012424:Rural Population; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006443:Hemoglobin A2; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin
keywords: Gabon; HbA2; HbF; HbS; sickle cell trait; thalassemia