Hemoglobin C and resistance to severe malaria in Ghanaian children

Frank P. Mockenhaupt; Stephan Ehrhardt; Jakob P. Cramer; Rowland H. Otchwemah; Sylvester D. Anemana; Katharina Goltz; Franziska Mylius; Ekkehart Dietz; Teunis A. Eggelte; Ulrich Bienzle

doi:10.1086/422847

Hemoglobin C and resistance to severe malaria in Ghanaian children

Frank P. Mockenhaupt, Stephan Ehrhardt, Jakob P. Cramer, Rowland H. Otchwemah, Sylvester D. Anemana, Katharina Goltz, Franziska Mylius, Ekkehart Dietz, Teunis A. Eggelte, Ulrich Bienzle

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63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hemoglobin (Hb) C has been reported to protect against severe malaria. It is unclear whether relative resistance affects infection, disease, or both. Its extent may vary between regions and with disease pattern. We conducted a case-control study of children with severe malaria, asymptomatic parasitemic children, and healthy children in Ghana. HbAC did not prevent infection but reduced the odds of developing severe malaria and severe anemia. Protection was stronger with HbAS. The frequencies of HbCC and HbSC decreased, from healthy children to asymptomatic parasitemic children to children with severe malaria. These data support the notion that natural selection of HbC occurs because of the relative resistance it confers against severe malaria but argue against the notion that HbC offers resistance to infection.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1006-1009
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume	190
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/422847
State	Published - Sep 1 2004
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Immunology and Allergy
Infectious Diseases

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10.1086/422847

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title = "Hemoglobin C and resistance to severe malaria in Ghanaian children",

abstract = "Hemoglobin (Hb) C has been reported to protect against severe malaria. It is unclear whether relative resistance affects infection, disease, or both. Its extent may vary between regions and with disease pattern. We conducted a case-control study of children with severe malaria, asymptomatic parasitemic children, and healthy children in Ghana. HbAC did not prevent infection but reduced the odds of developing severe malaria and severe anemia. Protection was stronger with HbAS. The frequencies of HbCC and HbSC decreased, from healthy children to asymptomatic parasitemic children to children with severe malaria. These data support the notion that natural selection of HbC occurs because of the relative resistance it confers against severe malaria but argue against the notion that HbC offers resistance to infection.",

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AU - Mockenhaupt, Frank P.

AU - Ehrhardt, Stephan

AU - Cramer, Jakob P.

AU - Otchwemah, Rowland H.

AU - Anemana, Sylvester D.

AU - Goltz, Katharina

AU - Mylius, Franziska

AU - Dietz, Ekkehart

AU - Eggelte, Teunis A.

AU - Bienzle, Ulrich

PY - 2004/9/1

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AB - Hemoglobin (Hb) C has been reported to protect against severe malaria. It is unclear whether relative resistance affects infection, disease, or both. Its extent may vary between regions and with disease pattern. We conducted a case-control study of children with severe malaria, asymptomatic parasitemic children, and healthy children in Ghana. HbAC did not prevent infection but reduced the odds of developing severe malaria and severe anemia. Protection was stronger with HbAS. The frequencies of HbCC and HbSC decreased, from healthy children to asymptomatic parasitemic children to children with severe malaria. These data support the notion that natural selection of HbC occurs because of the relative resistance it confers against severe malaria but argue against the notion that HbC offers resistance to infection.

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Hemoglobin C and resistance to severe malaria in Ghanaian children

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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