Evaluation of Selected Haematological Biomarkers among Sickle Cell Patients Attending University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria
Alli Olawumi Janet *
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Amusan, Festus Olatubosun
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Haemolytic anaemia, inflammation, and vaso-occlusion are characteristics of sickle cell disease (SCD), a chronic hemoglobinopathy. Routine inflammatory and haematological indicators can be used to determine the disease's activity and the probability of consequences.
Aim and Objectives: By assessing specific inflammatory and haematological biomarkers in SCD patients recruited at UCH Ibadan and contrasting their values with those of healthy controls, it would be possible to ascertain whether these biomarkers show associations with inflammatory burden and anaemia in SCD patients.
Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at UCH Ibadan, involving 50 healthy HbA controls and 119 clinically confirmed SCD patients. Using standard laboratory techniques (cellulose acetate electrophoresis for genotype confirmation; Westergren for erythrocytes sedimentation rate CRP4 kit and clinical chemistry analyzer for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, venous blood samples were analyzed for PCV (packed cell volume), WBC, platelet count, differential leukocyte counts, ESR (Westergren), and hs-CRP (turbidimetric CRP kit). Excel and SPSS were used to analyze the data, and descriptive and correlational statistics were presented. The Oyo State Ministry of Health ethics committee granted ethical permission, and verbal informed consent was gathered.
Results: The 119 participants, 52.9% of whom were female, had an average age of 18.35 ± 5.97 years. Neutrophils were 37.03 ± 16.77%, lymphocytes were 29.52 ± 9.85%, monocytes were 21.55 ± 9.66%, eosinophils were 0.96 ± 1.32%, basophils were 0.58 ± 0.62%, PCV was 25.92 ± 4.47%, WBC was 8.31 ± 5.11 ×10³/µL, platelet count was 779.99 ± 200.15 × 10³/µL, and ESR was 20.60 ± 5.85 mm/hr. Correlation analysis revealed that the neutrophil count was positively correlated with WBC (r = 0.31, p = 0.0006) and CRP (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with monocytes (r = −0.60, p < 0.001) and lymphocytes (r = −0.47, p < 0.001). There was a negative connection between PCV and CRP (r = -0.29, p = 0.0014).
Conclusion: Sickle cell disease patients at UCH Ibadan displayed elevated platelet and inflammatory indices, which were consistent with hemopoietic stress and chronic inflammation, in addition to their normal anemia. Numerous biomarkers, such as CRP, white blood cells, and neutrophils, demonstrated associations that lend credence to their application as indicators of the inflammatory burden in sickle cell disease. Routine evaluation of these easily accessible biomarkers may help with monitoring and early disease activity detection.
Keywords: Sickle cell disease, haematological biomarkers, inflammation, ESR, hs-CRP