Title: A Comparative Study of Haematological Parameters between Sickle Cell Anemia Patients on Hydroxyurea and Hydroxyurea Naïve Patients

Authors: Eunice Wandia Kanyiri, Dr Cleophas Mutinda Kyama, Dr Peter Maturi, Dr Fredrick Okinyi

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i5.89

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder that requires the patients to take a lifelong regimen of hydroxyurea drugs. Kenya, being a third world country, many of these patients are not able to afford to sustain their supply of the drug hence are off it most of the time. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there were haematological differences between the sickle cell patients taking hydroxyurea and hydroxyurea naïve patients. After obtaining consent and assent, a 2ml blood sample was collected from each study participant. A full blood count was run on the SYSMEX XT – 2000i and data entered into an Excel sheet. The parameters of interest were the hemoglobin, white blood cell count, and platelet count. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information and clinical history information. Ninety two sickle cell anemia patients participated in this study. Of these 46 were on hydroxyurea while the other 46 were off hydroxyurea.  The mean Hb of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was10.4 and 9.0 respectively (P value = 0.01). The mean WBC of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was 11.0 and 14.7 respectively (P value =0.005). The mean Plt of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was 384 and 485 respectively (P value= 0.01). A clinically significant difference between the Hb, WBC and platelet counts was noted between the 2 groups thus suggesting a positive impact of Hu on the haematological parameters of sickle cell patients. Studies such as this could help policy makers in devising strategies to make hydroxyurea more affordable to the Kenyan sickle cell population.

References

  1. Foy, H., Kondi, A., Timms, G. L., Brass, W., & Bushra, F. (1954, February 06). Sickle-cell Rates in Kenya and the Southern Sudan. Retrieved November 23, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2093306/?page=1
  2. Maakaron, J. E., & Taher, A. T. (2016, October 03). Sickle Cell Anemia (E. C. Besa, Ed.). Retrieved January 18, 2017, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205926-overview
  3. McGann, P. T., Tshilolo, L., Santos, B., Tomlinson, G. A., Stuber, S., Latham, T., Investigators, F. T. (2016, January). Hydroxyurea Therapy for Children With Sickle Cell Anemia in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Rationale and Design of the REACH Trial. Retrieved January 18, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4825070/
  4. Tenge Follow, C. N. (2014, December 14). Sickle cell anaemia registry and prevalence of sickle cell anaemia in... Retrieved January 18, 2017, http://www.slideshare.net/drnyongesa1/sickle-cell-disease-registry-and-prevalence-of-sickle-cell-disease-in-kenya-by-constance-tenge
  5. What is sickle cell anaemia? (2016, January 25). Retrieved January 19, 2017, http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-sickle-cell-anaemia
  6. Bridges, M. K. (n.d.). How Do People Get Sickle cell anaemia? Retrieved January 19, 2017, http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/scd_inheritance.html
  7. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; Sickle Cell Disease - Retrieved January 19, 2017, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca
  8. Sickle cell anaemia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2017, http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Sickle-cell-anaemia/Pages/Introduction.aspx
  9. Sickle cell anaemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia. Symptoms information. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2017, http://patient.info/doctor/sickle-cell-disease-and-sickle-cell-anaemia-pro
  1. Sickle Cell Society. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2017, http://sicklecellsociety.org/resources/inheritance-of-sickle-cell-anaemia/
  2. Pace, B. S., Ofori-Acquah, S. F., & Peterson, K. R. (2012). Sickle cell anaemia: Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms, and Therapies. Retrieved January 20, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3432324/
  3. S. (1997, July). Mechanism of action of hydroxyurea in the management of sickle cell anemia in adults. Retrieved January 20, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9317197
  4. Mulaku, M., Opiyo, N., Karumbi, J., Kitonyi, G., & Thoithi, G. (n.d.). Evidence review of hydroxyurea for the prevention of sickle cell complications in low-income countries. Retrieved January 20, 2017, http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2013/08/30/archdischild-2012-302387.full
  5. Pule, G., & Wonkam, A. (2014, February). Treatment for sickle cell anaemia in Africa: should we invest in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation? Retrieved January 20, 2017, http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/18/46/full/#.WIHLudJ97cs
  6. Sickle cell anaemia - Genetics Home Reference. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2017, https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/sickle-cell-disease
  7. Green, N. S., & S. B. (2013, November 19). Emerging science of hydroxyurea therapy for pediatric sickle cell anaemia. Retrieved January 25, 2017, http://www.nature.com/pr/journal/v75/n1-2/full/pr2013227a.html
  8. Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L., & Stryer, L. (2002). Biochemistry (7th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman. Pages 217- 234.
  9. Agrawal, R. K., Patel, R. K., Shah, V., Nainiwal, L., & Trivedi, B. (2014, June). Hydroxyurea in Sickle cell anaemia: Drug Review. Retrieved February 02, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4022916/
  10. Sickle cell anaemia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2017, http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/hematology_and_blood_disorders/sickle_cell_disease_85,P00101/
  11. Juwah, A. I., Nlemadim, E. U., & Kaine, W. (2004, June 01). Types of anaemic crises in paediatric patients with sickle cell anaemia seen in Enugu, Nigeria. Retrieved November 14, 2017, http://adc.bmj.com/content/89/6/572/
  12. Ballas, S. K., Kesen, M. R., Goldberg, M. F., Lutty, G. A., Dampier, C., Osunkwo, I., Malik, P. (n.d.). Beyond the definitions of the phenotypic complications of sickle cell disease: An update on management. Retrieved November 16, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415156/
  13. Ballas, S. K., Kesen, M. R., Goldberg, M. F., Lutty, G. A., Dampier, C., Osunkwo, I., Malik, P. (n.d.). Beyond the definitions of the phenotypic complications of sickle cell disease: An update on management. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415156/

Corresponding Author

Eunice Wandia Kanyiri

College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya