Heterogeneity of βs gene haplotypes in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Oman: A review of relevant publications

Sickle cell disease (SCD), caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene HBB, is widely distributed in malaria endemic regions. The prevalence of sickle cell trait and disease reaches up to 4.8–6% and 0.2% respectively, which is the highest among the Arab Gulf states. Omani population represents a variability of HbS genotype combinations with other Hb genotypes modify the clinical severity of the disease. The most prevalent sickling abnormality in Oman is Hb S/S (SCA) followed by Hb S/β-thalassemia. Omani children with SCD with high Hb F level had less severe disease. More than two-thirds of SCD cases were running a mild course of the disease due to the high prevalence of α-thalassemia trait. The severity index has been correlated with the early age of presentation, the absence of α-thalassemia trait and the lower level of HbF as well as to the existence of different β-globin gene haplotypes. S/ β(0) presented with the same clinical severity of S/S while those with S/ β(+) had some splenic function into adulthood and were more prone to splenic sequestration. The unique existence of HbS-Oman (a severe variant of sickle hemoglobinopathy) markedly increased the severity of the disease. Compound heterozygotes HbS-Oman resulted in very severe clinical manifestations with transfusion-dependency and hypersplenism early in life. This paper summarizes and reviews βs gene haplotypes in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in Oman. (www.actabiomedica.it)