GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY AND HOMOZYGOUS SICKLE-CELL DISEASE IN CONGO

G6PD genotypes were determined in Brazzaville (Congo) on 188 HbSS pati ents (109 females, 79 males) and 210 controls (115 females and 95 male s) with HbAA. DNA samples were analyzed by the polymerase chain reacti on (PCR). The frequencies of G6PD B, A+ and A- alleles were 56.9, 20.8 and, 22.2% in the patients versus 56.3, 21.2 and, 22.5% in the contro ls, respectively. The prevalence of G6PD genotypes in HbSS did not dif fer (p > 0.05) from that found in the controls. Prevalence of G6PD def iciency did not change when patients were stratified by age, suggestin g that there is no advantage of the association of G6PD deficiency wit h HbSS. Red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpusc ular hemoglobin were not modified by the G6PD genotypes, while Hb leve l was lower in HbSS with G6PD A-. Our study suggests that in Congo, G6 PD deficiency does not offer any biological advantage to sicklers.