Relationship of haptoglobin polymorphism to malaria in the Solomon Islands

Intern Med. 1995 May;34(5):342-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.34.342.

Abstract

Haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism and its relationship to malaria infections was examined in Solomon Islanders under 25 years of age. The slide positive rate for malaria was 48% (53/111): Plasmodium vivax (Pv) 21 cases, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) 16 cases and the remaining 16 were a mixture of Pv/Pf/P. malariae. Of 111 subjects examined, 17% (19 subjects) were ahaptoglobinemic (HpO). No association was observed between HpO and parasitemia, gender, anemia, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level, blood glucose level and enlargement of the spleen. These results suggest that malaria may not be the major cause of HpO in the people of the Solomon Islands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Haptoglobins / genetics*
  • Haptoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Malaria / blood*
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Malaria / genetics
  • Male
  • Melanesia / epidemiology
  • Parasitemia / drug therapy
  • Parasitemia / epidemiology
  • Parasitemia / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Rural Population

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Blood Glucose
  • Haptoglobins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I