A comparison of the incidence of severe malaria in Malian children with normal and C-trait hemoglobin profiles

Although a protective effect against malaria has been demonstrated for several hemoglobin variants, no selective factor is established for the high incidence of HbC in regions of West Africa. Here we report a survey of hemoglobin profiles among children admitted with symptomatic and severe malaria to the Gabriel Touré Hospital in Bamako, Mali, where the frequency of the HbC gene is 8–10%. Children with AC and AA profiles presented with severe malaria at comparable rates, indicating lack of protection by the heterozygous state. Two admitted children, one of whom presented with cerebral malaria, were found to have SC profiles. No CC homozygotes were detected in the study cohort.