Serum And Red Cell Folate Levels Of Paediatric Sicklers In Painful And Anaemic Crises

Abstract

Patients with sickle cell anaemia aged between one and ten years had their Red Cell Folate (RCF) and Serum Folate (SF) levels analysed. They comprised 32 sicklers in painful crises and 30 sicklers in anaemic crises all of whom were already on daily 5mg folic acid supplementation. The mean RCF of 208.0nmol/L in sicklers in painful crises was significantly high compared to the mean value of 154.4nmo1/L in the control (P<0.05). However the mean SF level (4.1nmol/L) of sicklers in painful crises was significantly lower than that of the control. The mean RCF of 138.5nmo1/L in the sicklers in anaemic crises was lower than that of the control (though not statistically significant P>0.05; while their mean SF (2.1nmo1/L) was significantly lower than that of the control. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that the practice of supplementing the sicklers with daily 5mg folic acid should continue, and it should be given twice daily in the case of anaemic crises.

Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol.9, No.3 (1999) pp. 202-204