RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Alloantibodies of clinical importance can cause transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The frequencies of these antibodies have not been reported in our locality. AIMS: To determine the frequency of occurrence of alloantibodies among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a prospective study, which was carried out in the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screening and identification of red blood cell alloantibodies was done on the sera of 500 pregnant women using the DiaMed, DiaCell, and DiaPanel reagents (Cressier, Switzerland). ABO and Rh blood groups were done using antisera bought from Biotec (Ipswich, UK). RESULTS: Alloantibodies were identified in the serum of 17 of the 500 (3.4%) pregnant women. The specificity of the antibodies was as follows: anti-C 6 (1.2%), anti-E 3 (0.6%), anti-Jsb 3 (0.6%), and anti-K 5 (1.0%). No anti-D was identified despite 8.6% of the study population being Rhesus D (Rh D) negative. The distribution of the antibodies was found to be independent of the blood groups of the participants (χ(2) = 4.050, P = 0.670). Blood group O constituted the highest percentage (48.0%). CONCLUSION: This study has identified the presence of non-Rh D antibodies to the proportion of 3.4%. Rh D antibody was absent in this population irrespective of the relatively high percentage of Rh D negative women. There is a need to determine the actual risk these antibodies may pose to the antenatal women and to include antibody screening and identification in routine antenatal care.
RESUMEN
The hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF) values of 240 apparently healthy children were determined in a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Standard colorimetric and enzyme immunoassay procedures were used for the estimation all variables. The mean values of all parameters in this study population were; Hb (11.2 +/- 1.83 gldl), TIBC (361.4 +/- 245.7 ugldl, log(c) SI (1.807 +/- 0.45), log(c) SF (1.51 +/- 0.47) and TS (29.3 +/- 18.5%). There was an age-dependent statistical significant difference in the Hb, TIBC and TS values (P < 0.01). Sex was not found to exert any significant influence on the parameters except TIBC. TS had the highest sensitivity and efficiency values of 48 and 95%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV), likelihood ratio (LR(+)) and post-test probability values were highest with SF (58%, 3.3 and 62.2%, respectively) as a diagnostic indicator. Hb values correlated positively and significantly with TS (P < 0.01), log(c) SI and log(c) SF concentrations (P < 0.05). Log(c) SF also correlated positively and significantly with Hb and TIBC (P < 0.05). The overall prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among these children was 33.75%. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among apparently healthy children under the age of five years in this part of the world and these results may justify the need for the introduction of a broad intervention programme for this highly vulnerable group. This study is also in support of the hypothesis that SF is the best test for diagnosing or excluding iron deficiency anaemia. The combination of SF, Hb and TS determinations may prove more useful in a resource-limited moderate setting.
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Anemia Ferropénica/diagnóstico , Factores de Edad , Anemia Ferropénica/epidemiología , Biomarcadores/sangre , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Ferritinas/sangre , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Humanos , Lactante , Hierro/sangre , Masculino , Prevalencia , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores Sexuales , TransferrinaRESUMEN
The plasma fibrinogen levels in 50 Nigerian sickle cell disease (Hb SS) patients in steady state and 50 healthy age and sex-matched (Hb AA) control subjects were determined for the purpose of assessing their baseline values. The fibrinogen levels were assessed using two methods, the clot weight and Clauss, on all the samples for the purpose of comparison. It was observed in this study that the Hb SS patients had significantly higher fibrinogen levels than the healthy Hb AA control subjects, both by the clot weight method (p < 0.001) and the Clauss (p < 0.005). The mean fibrinogen levels (4.1 +/- 2.1 g/L) of the Hb SS patients as determined by the clot weight method, were significantly higher than the values (2.2 +/- 0.3 g/L) obtained by the Clauss method. The mean values for the two methods were 2.8 +/- 0.9 and 2.0 +/- 0.08 g/L, respectively, among the control individuals with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.005). Estimation of the plasma fibrinogen levels in sickle cell disease patients might be a useful indicator of hyper coagulability, while early diagnosis may help to prevent vaso-occlusive crises in these patients.
Asunto(s)
Anemia de Células Falciformes/sangre , Fibrinógeno/análisis , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Nigeria , Valores de ReferenciaRESUMEN
The plasma levels of some blood coagulation parameters; prothrombin time, (PT), partial thromboplastin time with kaolin (PTTK), thrombin clotting time, (TCT), fibrinogen and factor X assay were determined in 50 Nigerian homozygous (HbSS) patients and 50 HbAA healthy individuals for the purpose of assessing their baseline values and susceptibility of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to hyper coagulability. Standard procedures were used for all variables. The mean age of the study participants was 21.7 +/- 5.0 years. The mean PT of 13.7 +/- 1.4 s in HbSS patients was found to be significantly longer than the mean PT value of 12.9 +/- 1.0 in HbAA control subjects (p < 0.001). The mean PTTK values of 46.0 +/- 9.6 s in HbSS patients was also found to be significantly higher than the 41.0 +/- 3.7 s recorded among the control subjects (p < 0.001). The mean TCT of 6.4 +/- 0.8 s in HbSS patients was however found to be significantly lower than the mean value of 10.6 +/- 0.8 s obtained in the control group. Fibrinogen level (4.1 +/- 2.1 g/l) in HbSS patients and 2.8 +/- 0.9 g/l in HbAA controls was also found to be significantly different (p < 0.001). Factor X level in the sickle cell patients, (64.6 +/- 14.9%) was equally found to be significantly lower than that of the apparently healthy HbAA control individuals (95.2 +/- 7.2%) (p < 0.001).