Evaluation of the renal function among sickle cell patients: a cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the implications and effects of hematological and kidney function patterns in individuals with sickle cell disorder (SCD) residing in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia. In this study, a cohort of individuals (including sickle cell anemia patients, sickle cell trait carriers, and control subjects) at Abu-Arish General Hospital with a total of 172 sickle cell anemia patients, 70 patients with sickle cell traits, and 91 control subjects is evaluated. A 5 mL sample of venous blood was collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated tubes and serum gel separator tubes for hematological tests and biochemical analysis, respectively. Hematological assays were performed in EDTA. Red blood cell (RBC) parameters were recorded. Renal function tests were conducted to determine serum analytes, including sodium, potassium, urea, and creatinine. The dimension auto-analyzer determined biochemical parameters. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed. The predominant variant observed in sickle cell anemia cases was sickle hemoglobin, accounting for 67.4% of the cases, whereas hemoglobin A1 constituted 22.4% of the cases. SCD patients exhibited elevated levels of white blood cells, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width, and platelets. Conversely, they displayed decreased levels of RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume. In addition, SCD patients demonstrated higher serum electrolyte levels compared to control subjects. Conversely, serum urea and creatinine levels were lower in SCD patients compared to control subjects. In conclusion, SCD patients commonly exhibit compromised kidney function. It is recommended that such patients be provided with comprehensive health education pertaining to their overall well-being and strategies for mitigating the risk of renal impairment.