Abstract
Background: Sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder marked by vaso-occlusive crises and severe pain, presents a major global health challenge. Haptoglobin, a glycoprotein that binds free hemoglobin in the blood, protects tissues from oxidative damage. This study aims to explore the link between variations in the haptoglobin (HP) gene and susceptibility to more severe sickle cell disease.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed across Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed. Methodological quality was evaluated using the RoB 2 tool. Statistical analyses employed MetaGenyo software with significance being set at a p-value <0.05. Functional enrichment, gene ontologies, and protein-protein interaction networks were mapped using the Enrichr and STRING web platforms.