Background: Although G6PD deficiency is the most common genetically determined blood disorder among Iraqis,\r\nits molecular basis has only recently been studied among the Kurds in North Iraq, while studies focusing on Arabs\r\nin other parts of Iraq are still absent.\r\nMethods: A total of 1810 apparently healthy adult male blood donors were randomly recruited from the national\r\nblood transfusion center in Baghdad. They were classified into G6PD deficient and non-deficient individuals based\r\non the results of methemoglobin reduction test (MHRT), with confirmation of deficiency by subsequent enzyme\r\nassays. DNA from deficient individuals was studied using a polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length\r\npolymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for four deficient molecular variants, namely G6PD Mediterranean (563 C�®T), Chatham\r\n(1003 G�®A), A- (202 G�®A) and Aures (143 T�®C). A subset of those with the Mediterranean variant, were further\r\ninvestigated for the 1311 (C�®T) silent mutation.\r\nResults: G6PD deficiency was detected in 109 of the 1810 screened male individuals (6.0%). Among 101 G6PD\r\ndeficient males molecularly studied, the Mediterranean mutation was detected in 75 cases (74.3%), G6PD Chatham\r\nin 5 cases (5.0%), G6PD A- in two cases (2.0%), and G6PD Aures in none. The 1311 silent mutation was detected in\r\n48 out of the 51 G6PD deficient males with the Mediterranean variant studied (94.1%).\r\nConclusions: Three polymorphic variants namely: the Mediterranean, Chatham and A-, constituted more than 80%\r\nof G6PD deficient variants among males in Baghdad. Iraq. This observation is to some extent comparable to other\r\nAsian Arab countries, neighboring Turkey and Iran.
Loading....