Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE IN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

T.R. KOTILA, W.A. SHOKUNBI

Abstract


Objective: To evaluate the clinical and laboratory features ol' adult sickle cell anaemia
patients in Nigeria.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Selfing: Haematology clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Subjects: Sixty nine adult sickle cell anaemia patients random11 sampled.
Results: The mean steady state haematocrit, HbAz and HbF were 22%, 4.6% and 7%
respectively. Twenty five per cent of the patients had never received blood transfusion and
a similar proportion recorded an infrequent occurrence of painful crises.
Conclusion: An improved survival was observed with female pati :nts showing an age related
survival advantage over the males. Persistent splenomegaly was observed less frequently in
the Nigerian sickle cell population despite the high frequency oi'alpha thalassaemia in the
region. This was thought to be due to the lower levels of HbF in this population.

Full Text: HTML

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


The East African Medical Journal is published monthly by Kenya Medical Association.

For more information, contact The Editor-in-Chief email: eamj@wananchi.com Tel 254-020-3864513, Fax:254-020-3864514