Sickle Cell Disease and Β Globin Gene Haplotypes Among Selected Sudanese Population in North Darfur State

Abstract

Aim: To identify β globin gene haplotypes and their frequencies in patients with SCD in North Darfur state, western Sudan Methods: This is a cross-sectional prospective community-based study that was carried out between December 2017 and August 2018. The study took place in the North Darfur state which is located in western Sudan. The study included 666 individuals (369 females and 297 males). Participants were screened for haemoglobinopathies using haemoglobin electrophoresis, while β globin haplotypes analysis for patients with SCD was carried out using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Among the 666 participants, 579 (86.94%) had normal hemoglobin (AA), while 70 (10.51%), 13 (1.95%), and 4 (0.6%) had AS, SS, and AD respectively. Cameroon haplotype was found in 42.3% of the study group. Benin was 26.9%, Bantu was 23.1% and Senegal was 7.7%. Conclusion: The Cameron haplotype was found to be most prominent in Sudanese patients, thereby confirming the findings of previous studies in the country. Keywords: sickle cell disease; anemia; β-globin; haplotype; North Darfur; Sudan