Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) as a Genetic Modulator in Various Clinical Phenotypes of Sickle Cell Anemia in Tribal and Non-Tribal Ethnic Group of Saurashtra Region in Gujarat
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Abstract
Objectives: To compare fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and clinical manifestations between Tribal and non-Tribal Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) patients in Gujarat's Saurashtra region and investigate HbF's role in modulating disease severity. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 68 SCA patients (33 Tribal, 35 non-Tribal) at a tertiary care center from January 2023-2024. HbF levels were measured via high-performance liquid chromatography, and clinical data on Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS), Vaso-occlusive Events (VOE), Pain Crisis, and hospitalization duration were collected from medical records. Results: Tribal patients exhibited significantly higher mean HbF levels compared to non-Tribal patients (17.8% vs. 13.0%, p<0.01). This correlated with lower incidence of ACS (36% vs. 65%, p=0.0176) and VOE (39% vs. 77%, p=0.0016) among Tribal patients. Pain Crisis incidence showed no significant difference between groups (36% vs. 45%, p=0.4535). Notably, Tribal patients experienced shorter mean hospital stays (2.12 vs. 3.37 days, p<0.01). Conclusion: Higher HbF levels in Tribal SCA patients correlate with reduced ACS and VOE incidence and shorter hospitalizations, suggesting a protective effect. These findings enhance understanding of SCA heterogeneity across ethnic groups and may inform development of population-specific management approaches. Further investigation into genetic and environmental factors underlying these differences is warranted.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dhara P Trivedi, Deval Mehta, Punithan Narayanan, Pragati Kantibhai Bhimani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Deval Mehta, Tutor, Department of Pathology, Shri M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
Tutor, Department of Pathology, Shri M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
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