Ahaptoglobinaemia and predisposition to iron-deficiency anaemia.

Ahaptoglobinaemia in a sample from northeastern Brazilian was found to be significantly associated with a low hematocrit (Krieger et al, 1965; Morton, Krieger, and Mi, 1966). Further analysis showed no explanation for the association. Individuals with abnormal haemoglobin genotypes SS, SC, and CC were excluded but the association with low hematocrit remained significant (Azevedo, Krieger, and Morton, 1969). Because malnutrition and infections by parasites were severe in this population, iron-deficiency anaemia was probably the cause for the low hematocrit. A possible role of ahaptoglobinaemia in the development of irondeficiency anaemia was considered at this time and chosen as a working hypothesis for the present paper.