Relationship between platelet count and ferritin in blood donors in Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia is a major reason donors are deferred from donation. Iron deficiency is an important donor health concern with adverse consequences even without anaemia. However, iron-deficient donors are usually undetected using the current screening of haemoglobin methods in most Nigerian blood centres. Thrombocytosis has been associated with iron deficiency, and thrombocytopenia has also been reported in severe anaemia. This study assessed the relationship between platelet and ferritin in blood donors.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of blood donors attending the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) between March 1st, 2019, and July 31^st, 2019. A proforma was used to obtain the sociodemographic information. A donation sample was collected for a complete blood count and ferritin assay. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17.0.

Results:Data from 313 blood donors with an age range between 18 years to 58 years and a mean age of 32.1 ± 9.3 years were analysed. The mean platelet count was 207.6 ± 73.8 X 10⁹/L while the median (Inter Quartile Range) for ferritin was 102.7 ng/mL(62.4 ng/Ml -182.0 ng/mL) respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between platelet count and ferritin among all categories of blood donors. (where is the correlation coefficient?). Regular blood donors had significantly lower serum ferritin levels than first-time donors (p = 0.0356). There was, however, no statistically significant difference between regular donors and first-time donors with respect to platelet levels (P= 0.1107)

Conclusion

Platelet count had no statistically significant relationship with ferritin in this study. Multiple blood donors, however, had statistically significant lower ferritin levels compared to first-time donors. There is a need to include a ferritin assay in pre-donation testing, especially in regular donors.