The Role of Lutheran Blood Group Antigen/Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule Possession in Vaso-occlusion Among Sickle Cell Anaemia Subjects in Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Vaso-occlusive painful crises are the hallmark of sickle cell anaemia responsible for the significant morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. This study is aimed to determine if there is an association between levels of Lutheran/Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule possession and vaso-occlusive painful crisis in sickle cell anaemia subjects. Materials and Methods: It was an analytical, prospective study in which Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to identify serum Lutheran/Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule glycoprotein. Lutheran/Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule was evaluated in sickle cell anaemia subjects during a crisis, the same set of subjects was invited three months after during steady-state and HbAA blood donors were also used as controls. Disease severity and analogue pain scores were assessed in the sickle cell anaemia subjects. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science version 23. Results: A total of forty-nine (49) sickle cell anaemia subjects and forty-seven (47) HbAA controls were recruited, the mean ages were 26.55±7.31 years and 31.13±8.51years respectively. The concentrations of Lutheran/Basal Cell Adhesion amongst the sickle cell anaemia subjects in crisis, steady-state and HbAA controls were 1.61± 0.23ng/ml, 1.46±0.21ng/ml, and 1.35±0.17 ng/ml respectively. The concentrations in crisis/steady and crisis/controls were statistically significant at p=0.01 each. Conclusion: The mean concentration of Lutheran/Basal Cell Adhesion is most elevated in SCA subjects in a crisis state followed by steady-state and HbAA controls.