Incidence of Australia antigen in Ugandan subjects with sickle cell disease

Abstract

Two hundred patients with homozygous S-haemoglobinopathy (HbSS) were assayed for Au-Ag and Au-Ab. Three (1.5%) patients had positive Au-Ag and one (0.5%) was positive for Au-Ag. The results indicate that the incidence of Au-Ag and Au-Ab, in repeatedly transfused patients with HbSS, is not higher than that of the general population. Does the sickle-cell-gene impart some indirect protection to these patients against the existence of the Au-Ag? Incidental findings were the high incidence of hepatomegaly (78.5%) and splenomegaly (6%).