Blood groups and types, hemoglobin variants, and G‐6‐PD deficiency among Abu Dhabians in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Some erythrocyte genetic factors were studied in the indigenous population of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian peninsula. Determinations carried out included blood groups and types ABO, MNS, Rh0, KkJsa, FyaFyb, P1, Lea, Vela, hemoglobin variants, and screening for G-6-PD deficiency. Prevalence of most blood groups and types harmonized with that among neighboring Arabs and some Arabs elsewhere. The MS and NS gene complexes were noticeably high. African admixture was expressed by the presence of Jsa and HbS and large numbers of Fy. G-6-PD deficiency was rather high.

Heterogeneity of sickle cell anaemia in Arabs: review of cases with various amounts of fetal haemoglobin.

“…One of these was from Abu Dhabi Emirate, and the other was from Um Al-Quwain Emirate, with populations of about 80 000 and 10 000, respectively (Ramahi, 1973). Hb A2 was not raised in any of the people reported here, and a survey on Hb variants only showed Hb S among Abu Dhabians (Kamel et al, 1979).…”

“…One of these was from Abu Dhabi Emirate, and the other was from Um Al-Quwain Emirate, with populations of about 80 000 and 10 000, respectively (Ramahi, 1973). Hb A2 was not raised in any of the people reported here, and a survey on Hb variants only showed Hb S among Abu Dhabians (Kamel et al, 1979 (Perrine et al, 1972). The patients presented here have been 'selected' in that they were referred patients and their number is obligatorily small because of the small Abu Dhabian population and the relatively low frequency of Hb S gene of0 * 0120 (Kamel et al, 1979 (Phillips, 1971).…”

“…Hb F percentage in the reported patients falls mid-way between that of the Sheeah and Jamaican levels (Perrine et al, 1972). The patients presented here have been 'selected' in that they were referred patients and their number is obligatorily small because of the small Abu Dhabian population and the relatively low frequency of Hb S gene of0 * 0120 (Kamel et al, 1979). They nevertheless illustrate the presence of a wide range of severity of clinical manifestations of homozygous sickle cell anaemia in some Arabs who also have varying amounts of Hb F. However, this series should not imply the non-existence of very mild cases of benign sickle cell anaemia patients in the same community who did not come for haematological advice.…”

“…All patients had homozygous sickle cell anaemia with Hb type SS + F and the tested parents had sickle cell traits with Hb A + S. G6PD deficiency in Abu Dhabians is expressed by a Gd-gene frequency of 0-1000 and they are usually symptomless (Kamel et al, 1979), either because of a genetic determination or because of the absence of the challenging oxidant. It was not a superadded factor in the patients reported here, since none was G6PD deficient by the screening test.…”

Distribution and clinal trends of the ABO and Rh genes in select Middle Eastern countries

“…Bener and Yousafzai (2014) observed the blood group diversity in the Qatari population and Al- Arrayed et al (2001) reported blood groups distributions in the population of Bahrain. Kamel et al (1980) studied 10 erythrocyte polymorphic systems in the indigenous population of Abu Dhabi, and concluded that the prevalence of most blood groups were consistent with those of neighboring Arabs. Yip et al (2006) carried out genotyping in Kuwaiti subjects and detected the distribution of sub-types of the ABO blood groups.…”