Puerto Ricans at higher risk for rare, dangerous form of albinism From: orlandosentinel.com
Tagged: Puerto RicanPosted on: June 26th, 2008
In addition to the sometimes obvious physical differences, albinos with HPS have blood-clotting problems that can cause death and are prone to intestinal ulcers. Some will develop pulmonary fibrosis, a deadly lung disease.
In the population at large, only one person in 500,000 carries the HPS gene. But among Puerto Ricans, it can be as high as one in 20 for those who hail from the island’s northwest. The gene likely made it to Puerto Rico during the colonization period and proliferated as the isolated population intermarried.”*
Curation from Tomás
Filed Under: Eye Openers, Health
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