Erythrocyte indices in Pre-school Nigerian Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Steady State

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is a genetic haemoglobinopathy with consequent haemolysis and anaemia. It is of interest to study its effect on red cell indices beside haemoglobin concentration. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to determine the values of red cell indices in preschool-age children with sickle cell anaemia. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional study including 97 children with sickle cell anaemia aged six months to five years and 97 age-and sex-matched healthy controls with haemoglobin genotype AA (Hb AA). The red cell indices such as packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were investigated, using an auto analyzer. RESULTS: The mean PCV, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count were significantly higher in HbAA controls (p = 0.000 in each case). The mean MCV was higher among HbSS subjects but it was only among females and when the result was analyzed irrespective of gender that the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state have lower values of all red cell parameters and higher values of MCV, compared to haemoglobin phenotype AA controls.