EVALUATION OF SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, LIVER ENZYMES AND BILIRUBIN IN SICKLE CELL DISEASED PATIENTS ATTENDING FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, OWERRI, NIGERIA

Background: Sickle cell disease is a group of haemoglobin-related blood disorders typically inherited. It has remained a clinical burden in the world, particularly in Nigeria. Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating some haematological parameters liver enzymes and bilirubin in sickle cell diseased patients attending Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Imo State. Method: The study included a total of 60 individuals, 30 of them were sickle cell patients and 30 were apparently healthy individuals who served as controls. 7mls of venous blood was collected from each subject using the standard clean venipuncture technique. Samples for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and total white blood cell (TWBC) estimations were aliquoted into EDTA containers while that of liver enzymes and bilirubin estimations were dispensed into plain tubes. Haematological parameters were determined using a hematological manual methods, while Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations were determined using Kinetic method and bilirubin was determined using Jendrassic and Grof method. The statistical analysis was done using software statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 and mean, standard deviation, student t-test and correlations were determined. Results: The mean values of PCV (22.17±4.35)% and Haemoglobin concentration (7.61±1.59)g/dl were significantly reduced in sickle cell patients when compared to controls (35.70±2.96)% and (11.92±1.26)g/dl,(p=0.000). The mean value of TWBC (17633.33±9859.99)cells/μl was significantly increased (p=0.000) in sickle cell patients when compared to controls (6765.00±1923.61)cells/μl,(p=0.000).The mean values of AST (17.77±12.97)IU/L, ALT (11.63±6.22)IU/L, Conjugated bilirubin (1.43±1.68)mg/dl and Total bilirubin (5.06±5.13)mg/dl were significantly increased in sickle cell patients when compared to controls (6.05±2.89)IU/L, (5.30±1.42)IU/L, (0.73±0.25)mg/dl and (1.40±0.32)mg/dl (p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.003 and p=0.003). Conclusion: The findings have shown that sickle cell disease is associated with a decrease in PCV and haemoglobin, an increase in total white blood cell, AST, ALT and total bilirubin levels.