Haptoglobin Polymorphism and Morbidity in Children Born Prematurely

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein. There exists three different Hp phenotypes that differ in their pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation and oxidative stress are critically involved in many pathophysiological processes in childhood. We previously reported on the relationship of in-hospital clinical events and the Hp phenotype in a cohort of consecutive premature infants. This study provides follow up of childhood morbidity data and its relationship to the Hp phenotype for the previously reported study premature infant cohort. A phone questionnaire was carried out among the parents and medical history records were evaluated. The age of participants varied from eight to eleven years. The questionnaire included information about diseases with an inflammatory component in pathogenesis, infections and need for hospitalization. Of the original 122 study participants, morbidity data at eight to eleven years was available for 101 participants, and 100 were enrolled in the study. A less anti-inflammatory Hp phenotype (Hp 2-2) was more prevalent in participants who suffered from diseases with an inflammatory component in their pathogenesis (RTI, pneumonia, UTI, OM and tonsillitis) when these entities were analyzed as a group (p=0.043). Subsequent comparison of the cumulative number of episodes of these entities between Hp phenotypes during all follow up period detected a trend in the same direction. Further research involving a larger population is required for better understanding of the Hp phenotype role in infantile and pediatric morbidity.