Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Open AccessThe Role of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Parameters in Vaso-Occlusive Crisis Frequency Among Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients in OAUTHC Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Amaechi Rose A, Awe Adeniyi, Arayombo Babatunde Elijah, Omolajaiye Sunday Abraham, Adeyombo Judith N, Oladipo Folashade M, Yusuf Oluwole Samson, Orisatoberu Omolola R, Ademosun Abdulwaheed Adewale, Hassan Mutiyat Adeyoola, Oyebanji Oladayo Oluwabusayo, Ayanleye Yetunde Funmilola.
Abstract
Introduction: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a technique of separating, identifying and quantifying a mixture and its components via passing through a column packed with a stationary phase, which is achieved by differences in interactions of the components with the mobile and stationary phases under high pressure. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells are shaped abnormally, the higher the fetal haemoglobin (HbF) level the lower the risk of frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and vice-versa.
Materials and Methods: The study area is ILE-IFE, with latitudes 7°28'N and 7°46'N, and longitudes 4°36'E and 4°56'E. located in the core of south-western Nigeria. The study recruited 50 participants of Sickle Cell subjects in study group and 50 Haemoglobin AA as control group, of which 23(23.7%) and 27(26.7%) represent male and female in the study group, while 24 (24.2%) and 26 (25.8%) represent male and female in the control group respectively. Sample Size Calculations: Prevalence of 2.0 % Case control study was used, N= Z2 x P (1-P)/d2 ~ 30 and therefore sample size was adjusted to 100. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethical Committee of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State. A total of 5mls of blood sample was collected in EDTA bottle from each participant for HPLC parameters. The blood sample from all participants were collected in labelled 5ml EDTA anticoagulant bottle, using - Bio Rad (USA) for the determination of the Hb variants. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by a student’s t-test (post hoc).
Results: The mean values of high-performance liquid chromatography of sickle cell patients with frequent and less frequent group (HbSS) parameters were all statistically and significantly different (P<0.05) when compared with the control group (HbAA). The mean values of HbF in sickle cell with frequent vaso occlusive crisis was 4.94±3.8 while control was 2.67±0.40.
Discussion: There observed a statistically significant value of HbF (p<0.05) in the sickle cell group when compared with the control group AA. There was however no statistically significant difference but a slight decrease in HbF, when the sickle cells with frequent VOC and those with less frequent VOC crisis were compared. There existed a correlation between HbA2 and HbF in this study. When HbA2 value was low in sickle cell patient with less frequent VOC, there was corresponding increase in the value of HbF and when HbA2 was increased in Sickle cell Patients with Frequent VOC, the HbF was slightly low. The presence of HbA in the Sickle Anaemia patients in this study, though not expected might have been as a result of remnants of HbA from the recent transfusion. The present study found elevated levels of HbF and HbA2 among the SS patients when compared with the control group.
Conclusion: It was concluded from this study that, Fetal Heamoglobin (HbF) was slightly low in Sickle cell Anaemia patients with recurrent Vaso Occlusive Crisis compared with Sickle cell Anaemia patient with Less Frequent VOC.
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