Do Nigerian diabetics with haemoglobin genotype Hb AS have greater risks of developing renal complications and hypertension? A preliminary report.

Thirty nine non-insulin dependent Nigerian diabetics (21 males and 18 females) aged 40-63 years (mean 50.6 years) with haemoglobin genotype Hb AA who had diabetes for 5-8 years were matched with an equal number of non-insulin dependent diabetics with haemoglobin genotype Hb AS for sex, age, duration of diabetes and state of control of diabetes. The occurrence of proteinuria and hypertension was studied in all patients; serum creatinine and 24 hour urine protein excretion were measured in those with proteinuria. Eight of the 39 diabetics with Hb AS had developed significant proteinuria compared to two with Hb AA (p less than 0.05). The serum creatinine was constantly above 2.0 mg/100 ml in four of the eight diabetics with Hb AS compared to one with Hb AA, whilst the 24 hour protein excretion in the urine was above 2.0 g in three diabetics with Hb AS compared to none with Hb AA. Twelve diabetics with Hb AS had hypertension compared to three with Hb AA (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that Nigerian diabetics with haemoglobin genotype Hb AS may have greater risks of developing proteinuria, with renal dysfunction and/or hypertension and probably diabetic nephropathy than their counterpart with haemoglobin genotype Hb AA.