Reference range of serum haptoglobin is haptoglobin phenotype-dependent in blacks

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta 2000-06, Vol.296 (1), p.163-170
• Main Authors: Kasvosve, Ishmael, Gomo, Zvenyika A.R., Gangaidzo, Innocent T., Mvundura, Elisha, Saungweme, Thokozile, Moyo, Victor M., Khumalo, Hlosukwazi, Boelaert, Johan R., Gordeuk, Victor R., Delanghe, Joris R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; Electrophoresis; Electrophoresis, Starch Gel; Female; Gene Frequency; Haptoglobin; Haptoglobins - analysis; Haptoglobins - genetics; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Phenotype; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Reference Values; Sex Characteristics; Tropical medicine; Zimbabwe
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-8981(00)00225-4

Reference values for serum haptoglobin (Hp), were established in a Black Zimbabwean population. The upper limit (2.15 g/l) is comparable to the one in Caucasians, but the lower limit (0.12 g/l) is much lower than the proposed interim international reference limit (0.3 g/l). Subjects that typed as Hp 0-0 by starch gel electrophoresis technique were retyped using high performance gel permeation chromatography. This resulted in a 32% decrease in the frequency of Hp 0-0, but an increase in Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1M phenotype frequencies. In the Zimbabwean Blacks, the Hp 0-0 frequency was estimated to be 2.9%. Haptoglobin reference values were found to be Hp phenotype-dependent; highest values were found in Hp 1-1 (median 0.88 g/l; range 0.31–1.69 g/l) and in Hp 2-1 (median 0.90 g/l; range 0.31–2.22 g/l) and lower values (median 0.66 g/l; range 0.13–1.79 g/l) in Hp 2-2 subjects. The Hp 2-1M phenotype was characterized by low reference values (0.18–1.25 g/l) ( P