Haptoglobin 1-1 is associated with susceptibility to severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria

The haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes were determined by polyacrylamide-gel elect rophoresis in plasma samples obtained in 1997 from 113 Plasmodium falciparu m malaria patients (aged 1-12 years) with strictly defined cerebral malaria , seven malarial anaemia, or uncomplicated malaria and 42 age-matched healt hy controls from the same area (coastal Ghana). Hp1-1 was significantly mor e prevalent among the patients (43%) than among healthy controls (7.1%), wh ereas Hp2-1 and Hp2-2 were underrepresented among the patients (11% and 2%, respectively) compared to the control donors (33%, and 14%, respectively). No significant difference in frequency of Hp0 was observed between patient s and controls. Among the malaria patients, the Hp1-1 phenotype was signifi cantly more prevalent among patients with the complications of cerebral mal aria and severe anaemia compared to patients with uncomplicated disease, wh ereas the reverse was seen with respect to Hp2-1 and Hp2-2. Our data sugges t that the Hp1-1 phenotype is associated with susceptibility to P. falcipar um malaria in general, and to the development of severe disease in particul ar.