Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Frequency of Painful Crises among Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients in Nigeria

The severity of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) in terms of frequency of painful Vaso-Occlusive Crises (VOC) may be affected by clinical and haematological parameters amongst others. Elucidation of these factors in a given disease prevalent environment is necessary for prompt and effective management of p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical and diagnostic research 2017-06, Vol.11 (6), p.EC22-EC25
Main Authors: Ugwu, Angela Ogechukwu, Ibegbulam, Obike Godswill, Nwagha, Theresa Ukamaka, Madu, Anazoeze Jude, Ocheni, Sunday, Okpala, Iheanyi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
clinical parameters
frequency of crisis
laboratory parameters
Pathology Section
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Summary:The severity of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) in terms of frequency of painful Vaso-Occlusive Crises (VOC) may be affected by clinical and haematological parameters amongst others. Elucidation of these factors in a given disease prevalent environment is necessary for prompt and effective management of patients with frequent painful VOC. This study aimed at determining the clinical and laboratory predictors of frequency of painful VOC among SCA patients in Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria. It was a cross-sectional study of 100 consecutive SCA patients receiving care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria between May 2012 and February 2014. The eligible patients were categorized into two groups namely; Group A and Group B. Group A/study group (severe disease) comprised SCA patients who had experienced three or more painful crises (≥3 crises) in the last one year preceding the study but, currently in steady state, while Group B/control group (mild-moderate disease), comprised SCA patients matched for age, sex, highest educational status, and occupation but who have had no painful crisis or had only one or two painful crises (0-2 crises) in the last one year preceding the study and currently in steady state. The overall mean age of the patients was 18.4±12.2 (range=2-52) years. The mean values of the haematological parameters including haemoglobin concentration, white cell count, platelet count, and neutrophil count were significantly higher in those with severe crises than mild-moderate crises (p
ISSN:2249-782X
0973-709X
DOI:10.7860/JCDR/2017/26446.10042