Thalassaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in sickle-cell disorder patients in Taiz, Yemen

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted to determine the prevalence and haematological characteristics of the interaction between thalassaemia or/and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in patients with sickle-cell disorder (SCD) in Taiz city, Yemen, where the prevalence of sickle-cell trait (HbAS) is 8.2%. Blood samples were collected from 31 SCD patients. Complete blood count and haemoglobin electrophoresis, G6PD activity and serum ferritin were determined. Thalassaemia was found in 6 patients (19.4%) and G6PD deficiency (6 mild and 1 severe) was detected in 7 patients (22.6%). The frequency of thalassaemia and/or G6PD deficiency with SCD was high and this may have an effect on the severity of the clinical course of SCD in Taiz. The study should be repeated with DNA analysis to define the nature of the globin gene defect and to clarify its role in the severity of SCD.