Distribution of Haptoglobin Phenotypes among Sudanese Leukemic Patients

Abstract

Abstract In the present study we aimed to examine haptoglobin phenotypes distribution in Sudanese leukemic patients, and to explore the association between haptoglobin phenotypes and leukemia subtypes. A total of IQ6 Sudanese leukemic patients; 61 males (57.7%) and 45 females (42.5%); age ranging between 1 and 70 years, diagnosed during May 2005 to March 2006, and their 106 match of normal individual were included in this study. Clinical data and Haptoglobin phenotypes for all patients and their matched controls were performed using electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel followed by benzidine stain. The result were then analyzed statistically for cross tabulation and chi~square tests for leukemia subtypes*sex, leukemia subtypes*age, leukemia subtypes*haptoglobin phenotypes, healthy controls*haptoglobin phenotypes, and tribes distribution*haptog1obin phenotypes. Haptoglobin phenotype analysis revealed common haptoglobin 2-1 phenotype among both, leukemic patients and controls; accounting for 48.2% and 49% respectively. The haptoglobin phenotype analysis showed also distinct ethnic distribution among Sudanese tribes with haptoglobin phenotype 1-1 more common in Afro-Asiatic Sudanese

tribes (30.5%), compared with haptoglobin phenotype 2-1 that showed less frequency (26%) in the same tribes. In conclusion the study failed to confirm the previously suggested increased incidence of the Hpl-1 phenotype among leukemic patients since a higher frequency of haptoglobin 2-1 has been observed among patients and the control group.