Haematologic and biochemical changes in the steady state sickle cells anaemia children at State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of beta-globin chain synthesis that results in various physiological  changes in hematologic and biochemical parameters.
Aim: The study aimed to determine hematologic and biochemical changes in sickle cell anemia children in steady state.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study that involved 80 sickle cell anaemia children in steady state and healthy controls that passed  inclusion criteria and consented to participate in the study. A total of 6 ml of venous blood was collected aseptically by standard  venepuncture. Automated analyzers were employed to determine both haematological and biochemical variables. The John’s Macintosh  Projects (JMP) version 11 was used for statistical analysis of the data.
Results: The mean Body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2) BMI was 15.48±3.79 and 19.12±4.32, and the mean weight was 29.06±10.39Kg and  39.71±19.49Kg for the subject and control groups, respectively. The mean haematologic values of subjects were low compared to controls  except for reticulocytes% with: Rbc (2.58±0.81 and 4.79±0.47), Hb (6.87±1.29 and 13.03±1.45) and Retic% (10.89±5.38 and  0.96±0.25) all show a significant difference at p˂0.0001 respectively. In differential leucocyte counts, leucocytosis was observed among  sickle cell anaemia subjects compared with healthy controls. Biochemical parameters showed statistically significant difference except for  serum calcium (2.23 ± 0.14 and 2.19 ± 0.18, P=0.2120). Total bilirubin level (mmol/l) 18.85±0.68 and 11.06±0.66, Total protein level  (mmol/l) 69.5±1.31 and 59.15±1.34, Serum albumen level(mmol/l) 41.10±3.51 and 44.73±2.63 for subjects and controls, respectively.   Conclusion: The results of this study have demonstrated significant anaemia, leukocytosis (neutrophilia), proteinemia, and  hyperbilirubinemia in the study subject, which is suggestive of chronic anemia, recurrent infections, and biochemical imbalance despite being in a steady state.