Assessment of Some Indicators of Oxidative Stress in Nigerian Sickle Cell Anemic Patients

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress, the imbalance between the productive of reactive species and antioxidant defences notably plays an important role in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease. Generating the necessary data about oxidative stress in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) would help in developing cost-effective and accessible treatment interventions of SCA in resource-poor countries. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels plasma lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), serum nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidant activity (TAOA) as indicators of oxidative stress in sickle cell individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this pilot study, 52 patients; homozygous (Hb SS) sickle cell patients confirmed by cellulose electrophoresis and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy (Hb AA) controls were subjected to analysis of NO, MDA, and TAOA. The plasma MDA was measured by a thiobarbituric reaction, (NO) was evaluated by the method described by Guevara et al. using Griess reagent and the TAOA of serum was determined by the method of Koracevic et al. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant decrease and increase in baseline levels of NO and MDA, respectively, in Hb SS group when compared with the control Hb AA (P = 0.000 and 95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.10–0.18 and −9.67–−5.57, respectively). A slight decrease in the TAOA level between the groups was observed although not statistically significant (P = 0.15 95% CI was −0.28–2.90). CONCLUSION: The results showed of imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant status in patients with SCA. Antioxidant supplementation may be a cheap assessable intervention for in sickle cell individuals (in the steady state or in crisis) to prevent further oxidative damage to the erythrocytes.