POLYMORPHISM OF DUFFY BLOOD GROUP IN IRAQI PATIENTS WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA

Abstract

The Duffy blood group was typed in a sample consisted of 381 individuals, a one hundred of them present the control whereas the remaining 281 individuals were affected by β-thalassemia. The latter sample was divided into three types; 158 persons affected with major thalassemia, 67 persons affected with intermediate thalassemia and 56 persons affected with minor thalassemia (carriers). The present study aims to explore for any relation in frequency of the duffy blood group patterns and the ability to be affected by β-thalassemia and each of its three clinical sub-types by comparison with the control sample. The various comparisons lead to a significant difference (P<0.05) for the intermediate thalassemia, Since the Fy(a-b+) and Fy(a+b+) phenotypes were decreased, while the Fy(a-b-) phenotype was increased, but the other types of thalassemia did not show such a level of significance. The decrease of certain blood group phenotype in patients may indicate a probable rule for those types in the resistance of infection by this disease.