A COMPARISON OF THE INCIDENCE OF SEVERE MALARIA IN MALIAN CHILDREN WITH NORMAL AND C-TRAIT HEMOGLOBIN PROFILES

Although a protective effect against malaria has been demonstrated for several hemoglobin variants, no selective factor is established for t he high incidence of HbC in regions of West Africa. Here we report a s urvey of hemoglobin profiles among children admitted with symptomatic and severe malaria to the Gabriel Toure Hospital in Bamako, Mali, wher e the frequency of the HbC gene is 8-10%. Children with AC and AA prof iles presented with severe malaria at comparable rates, indicating lac k of protection by the heterozygous state. Two admitted children, one of whom presented with cerebral malaria, were found to have SC profile s. No CC homozygotes were detected in the study cohort. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science B.V.