Abstract:
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder
characterized primarily by chronic anemia and periodic episodes of pain.
The disorder produces abnormal hemoglobin, which causes the red blood
cells to sickle or become crescent shaped. These sickle shaped RBCs are
much less deformable, and therefore obstruct microcirculation, and cause
tissue infarction. This study aimed to investigate the blood parameters of
patients with sickle cell anemia in comparison to healthy controls. The age
range of this population was from five months to 12 years, with 83% (n =
83) their ages < 7 years and 17% (n = 17) their ages were ≥ 7 years. The sex
ratio of males to females was 1:1 for all studied groups. Venous blood
samples were collected from patients with sickle cell anemia (n = 92) and
controls (n = 8) attending Al Buluk Teaching Hospital, at Omdurman City of
Khartoum State. The samples of patients with sickle cell disease { SS = 48
; 52.2% (48/92) }, sickle cell trait AS = 44; 47.8% (44/92) and eight
healthy controls (AA ) were screened for complete blood count and
hemoglobin electrophoresis. The mean and standard deviation for
hematological parameters for each group (SS, AS and AA) were compared
using SPSS 16.00. This study revealed a highly significant differences (P <
0.05) in Hb, PCV and WBCs between healthy controls (AA) and patients
with sickle cell anemia (SS and AS). The present study did not find any
significant differences (P > 0.05) between healthy controls and patients with
sickle cell anemia (SS + AS) concerning other hematological parameters
(MCV, MCH, MCHC, Neutrophiles, Lymphocytes, Monocytes,
Eosinophiles and Basophiles). This study showed low hematological
parameters of SCD patients may also be due to various causes including
poor nutrition as well as infections and hemolytic processes. This study
recommended pre screening for infants and children so as to mount the
necessary precautions to avoid complication of sickle cell anemia that may
lead to death.
