HbF status of tribal individuals with sickle cell anemia in Melghat region of Amravati district, Maharashtra, India

Sickle cell disease is a major genetic disorder among the tribal population. Fetal hemoglobin is a major contributor to the remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity of sickle cell disease and it helps reduce the disease severity. Its level varies dramatically in concentration in the blood of these patients. And the level of fetal hemoglobin is not yet studied among the tribal individuals of Melghat. Hence the objective of the present study was to determine the Fetal Haemoglobin (HbF) level in SCD patients (SS), carriers (AS) and normal individuals (AA) in the tribal people of Melghat Region of Amravati District, Maharashtra, India. In the population under study, it was found that the status of HbF is highest in SS followed by AS individuals. A slightly higher HbF level was observed in SS females than in their male counterparts. Among different age groups the highest HbF% was found in the age group of 11-20 years.