Study of C - reactive protein levels and haematological parameters in individuals with and without sickle cell anaemia in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a genetic disorder of haemoglobin and chronic inflammatory state. This study aimed to determine and compare C - reactive protein (CRP) levels and blood counts in participants with SCA (HbSS) and control (HbAS and HbAA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among steady-state HbSS individuals with age- and sex-matched control from August 2019 to February 2020. Using the method described by Charan and Biswas and sickle cell disease prevalence of 3.5%, a sample size of 47 was calculated. However, 101 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling technique. An assay of haemoglobin phenotype, CRP level and some haematological parameters, including haemoglobin level, white blood cell count and platelet count, were done. Data analysis was done using SPSS software, version 26.

RESULTS

One hundred and one subjects participated in the study and were made up of 51 (50.5%) males and 50 (49.5%) females with an age range of 1 to 52 years. They comprised 58 HbSS and 43 controls (23 HbAS and 20 HbAA). There was a significant increase in CRP level among HbSS participants (5.4μg/ml ±4.5) compared to those of HbAS (0.02μg/ml ± 0.01) and HbAA (0.02μg/ml ± 0.01) (p = 0.000). Correlation between CRP level and blood counts showed weak positive relationship between CRP and WBC count (r = 0.285, P = 0.07) as well as platelet count (r = 0.156, P = 0.336) but negative correlation between CRP and haemoglobin level (r = - 0.073, P = 0.655).

CONCLUSION

There was a significantly higher CRP level among patients with HbSS in a steady state compared to control (HbAS and HbAA individuals). Participants with HbSS had a positive but weak relationship between CRP and WBC count, CRP and platelet count and a weak negative correlation between CRP and haemoglobin level. Further studies are required on a broader scale to assess whether CRP level may be used to predict the occurrence of crisis in patients with SCA.