Sickle cell disease is a genetic disease that originated in several different regions, in particular African communities. The disease is present in the Brazilian population. The large number of heterozygotes and the severe clinical symptoms of homozygotes have drawn special attention from the government institutions in Brazil. Since the genetic origin of the disease was elucidated, sickle cell disease has become the focus of an every-growing number of scientific investigations. This investigation was performed to correlate the presence of the sickle cell trait in inhabitants of São José dos Campos, Brazil, with data on immigrants. The study sample consisted of 93,604 blood donors of the Hematology and Hemotherapy Service in São José dos Campos from 2004 to 2008. An analysis of the donors identified 400 heterozygous individuals with the sickle cell trait (Hb S - 0.43%) but no homozygotes. The results are completely different from the national pattern and are strongly supported by local history.
Hemoglobins; blood donors; hemoglobin SC disease; public health
