Assessment of serum iron levels in children with sickle cell anaemia at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Sixty children with sickle cell anaemia in the steady state attending the haematology clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital were assessed for serum iron levels and for the prevalence of iron deficiency. Laboratory investigations included hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cell count (WBC), serum iron,total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum ferritin, peripheral blood films and stools for parasites. The most reliable screening test for iron deficiency was serum ferritin. Twenty two children (36%) were found to be iron deficient(serum ferritin less than 12ng/l). Hookworm ova were found in eight of these children making it the single most important cause of iron deficiency. The conclusion made from this study is that iron deficiency anaemia is a potential problem in the non transfused sickle cell patients and therefore needs to be looked for in these patients.