Serum Ferritin Levels In Patients With Sickle Cell Anaemia At The Kenyatta National Hospital
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Date
2018Author
Oyiro, Peter
Mwanda, Walter
Odhiambo, Andrew
Ogutu, Elly
Otieno, C . F
Fatuma, Abdallah
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Abstract:
Background:
The iron levels in Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) is thought to be increased
because of
the
repeated red cell transfusion, haemolysis with subsequ
ent recycling and accumulation of iron.
Red cell
transfusion is used
frequently to prevent and treat the complications of sickle cell disease. Studies have shown
that the changes in iron status that results from such therapy is associated with significant
morbidity and
mortality. This
study examined
the serum ferritin as a marker of iron levels in patients with sickle cell disease
who receive chronic red blood cell transfusion.
Objective
: The aim of this study was
to assess
the status of serum iron levels by measurement of serum ferritin in
patients with sickle cell Anaemia
managed
at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Setting
: The study was carried out at the Kenyatta National
Hospital
Haematology clinic.
Design
: Cross
-
sectional
descriptive study
Materials and methods
: This study enrolled 80 patients with sickle cell anaemia.
History and
physical examination
was
done and
recorded on
study proforma
. Samples of blood
were then
drawn for serum ferritin, full blood count
including per
ipheral blood film. Serum ferritin was assessed using
enzyme immunoassay sandwich method with a
final fluorescent detection (ELFA) kits.
Blood counts were done using the haematology cell counter (CELL
-
DYN
1300) whiles the peripheral blood films were staine
d using May Grunewald Giemsa method. Quality control
measures were observed in all tests performed by adhering to reagent manufacturers’ guidelines and standard
specimen handling/laboratory operating procedures, to ensure validity of results.
Results
:
Eig
hty clinically
stable patients with
SCA were
studied.
Thirty
-
three were
males (41.3%)
while Forty
-
seven
were
females (58.7%). The mean age in the study population was 19.7±5.5 years
with the
youngest being 13years
and the
oldest 37
years. Serum ferritin
mean 939
.25±668ng/
ml,
was found to be significantly elevated in 56 (70.5%)
of our study subjects while 24
had normal
SF levels and none of them had low SF.
Twenty
-
five
(31.3%) who had
very high SF, above 1000ng/ml, had also been
transfused a
mean of 15±8.2
units of
blood. There was a
significant
association
between SF and the number of units of blood
transfused, p
=<
0. 001.There
was no
demonstrable
significant
association between SF and age, sex or red cell parameters.
Conclusion
:
This study revealed high se
rum ferritin in majority 70.5% of our patients with SCA. None of our
patients had low SF. Very high serum ferritin, more than 1000ng/ml was observed in patients who received ≥15
units of blood over a period of five years
.
There was a significant associatio
n between serum ferritin levels and
number of blood transfusions.
Annual serum ferritin measurements
are
recommended to determine the iron status
to
institute prompt therapeutic measure of iron chelation.
Citation
Oyiro P, Mwanda W, Odhiambo A, Ogutu E, Otieno CF, Abdalla F. "Serum Ferritin Levels In Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia at the Kenyatta National Hospital." IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS). 2018;17(3):31-40.Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10387]
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