Electrolytes profile of sickle-cell disease patients visiting the Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Serum contents of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl^-) and bicarbonate (HCO_3-) ions were determined in 50 children (5-15 years of age) having sickle-cell disease (SCD) and visiting the Central Hospital , Benin City, Nigeria. Twenty (20) were asymptomatic and 30 symptomatic. Another 40 served as control and were apparently healthy children age–matched, without any evidence of any haemoglobinopathies. Analysis of the results showed a statistically (p<0.05) increase in the K⁺ in the patients, but not Na⁺, Cl^- and HCO₃. The asymptomatic group showed Na⁺ Cl^- and HCO_3- that correlated more closely to the control group. However, the overall changes bear no statistical significance (p>0.05). The results are in support of the theory of red blood cell membrane dysfunction in sickle-cell disease with cation leakage across the cell membrane especially of K⁺ from the intercellular into the extracellular space.

Keywords: Sickle-cell disease, electrolytes, potassium, chloride, sodium, bicarbonate, Nigeria

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(4): 385-387, 2009