ORIGINAL: Evaluation of Foetal Haemoglobin Status among Nigerian Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

West Afr J Med 2021 Mar 22;38(3):222-227 PMID: 33765368

Authors

  • N. I. Ugwu Departments of Haematology & Immunology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • N. E. Okechukwu Safety Molecular Pathology Laboratory, The Molecular Pathology Institute, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • C. N. Ugwu Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • O. E. Ogah Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • C. Okike Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • R. C. Ikeagwulonu Chemical Pathology, Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • U. U. Nnadozie Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • A. J. Madu Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • H. C. Okoye Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • I. C. Uzoma Medical Laboratory Science, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Nigeria.
  • C. Alo Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • G. C. Ugwu Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • V. N. Ekpeagu Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
  • U. I. Okeke Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Foetal Haemoglobin, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Sickle Cell Anaemia, sickle cell traits, normal adult haemoglobin

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA, HbSS) is a genetic disorder of haemoglobin with marked variation in clinical manifestation. The aim of this study was to determine the foetal haemoglobin (HbF) status of patients with HbSS, compared with that of individuals with HbAS and HbAA control as well as to establish the relationship between HbF level and age and gender of the participants.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which HbF values of known HbSS patients along with HbAS and HbAA controls were analysed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Socio-demographic and other information were obtained with the use of questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, version 20.0. Ethical approval was obtained for the study.

Results: One hundred and two (102) participants were recruited for the study, comprising 60 patients with HbSS, 22 HbAS and 20 HbAA controls, with mean age of 11.0 years±9.6, 11.7 years ±8.8 and 12.3 years±8.1 respectively. There were 30 (61.2%) males and 30 (56.6%) females for HbSS group, 9 (18.4%) males and 13(24.5%) females for HbAS group and 10(20.4%) males and 10(18.9%) for HbAA group. Mean HbF level among HbSS participants was 8.0 ±6.1% and was significantly higher than that of HbAS (3.0 ±3.4%) and HbAA (2.2 ±4.1%) control (P<0.05). Mean HbF level was higher in children (<18 years) than adults (e"18 years) among HbSS, HbAS and HbAA participants, though not statistically significant (p >0.05). Mean HbF level was also higher among female HbSS, HbAS and HbAA groups compared to corresponding male groups, though only HbSS female group was significant (p = 0.031).

Conclusion: Patients with HbSS have significantly higher HbF level than individuals with HbAS and HbAA. Foetal haemoglobin level tend to decrease with advancing age and higher in females. Increased HbF level may play a compensatory mechanism in sickling in HbSS, thus the use of agent that increase HbF level may improve clinical outcome.

Published

2021-03-22

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 3 (2021): The West African Journal of Medicine

Section

Articles
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