Elevated foetal haemoglobin in tribal sickle cell anaemic patients: Blessing in disgust?

Sickle cell anaemia is a molecular disease. WHO recognises it as a global public health problem. In India, it is common among tribal communities. Increased HbS is a culprit. Therapeutic research is focused on maintaining high levels of HbF and decreasing 2,3, BPG to target disease. To assess the role of naturally compensated haemoglobin variants in tribal Sickle cell anaemic patients of North East Gujarat. Prospective, analytical, case control study conducted on randomly selected fifty tribal Sickle cell anaemic patients having disease for more than 5 years. Fifty age and sex matched, healthy control subjects. Each fifty Tribal sickle cell anaemic patients and healthy control were included in the study. Total Haemoglobin level, Sickling test by NESTROFT method and Haemoglobin variants were analysed by alkaline haemoglobin electrophoresis. Frequencies of clinical crises were recorded by oral questioning. The results were analysed using SPSS version 20. Student unpaired t- test was employed to assess the significance of the differences. P-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. We observed decreased levels of total haemoglobin, high levels of HbF and HbA2 along with reduced HbA0. Compensatory increase of HbF in tribal SCA patients have shown lower frequency of clinical crises. Reduced HbA0 in sickle cell anaemia is compensated by naturally elevated HbF and HbA2 in tribal patients which has a beneficial influence on their general health.