Alpha thalassemia among sickle cell anaemia patients in Kampala, Uganda
Loading...
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: Sickle cell anaemia is prevalent in sub Saharan Africa. While α+-thalassaemia is known to modulate sickle cell
anaemia, its magnitude and significance in Uganda have hitherto not been described.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of α+thalassaemia among sickle cell anaemia patients in Mulago Hospital and to
describe the clinical and laboratory findings in these patients.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on patients with sickle cell anaemia in Kampala. Dried blood spots were
used to analyze for the deletional α+ thalassaemia using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Of the 142 patients with sickle cell anaemia, 110 (77.5%) had the αα+thalassaemia deletion. The gene frequency
of (-α) was 0.425. Ninety one percent (100/110) of those with α+thalassaemia were heterozygous (αα/α-). Amongst the
patients older than 60 months, 15 (83.3%) of those without αα+thalassaemia had significant hepatomegaly of greater than
4 cm compared to 36 (45.6%) of those with α+thalassaemia (p=0.003).
Conclusion: The gene frequency of (-α) of 0.425 noted in this study is higher than that reported from many places in Africa. Concurrent alpha thalassemia might be a protective trait against significant hepatomegaly in sickle cell anaemia patients
more than 60 months of age at Mulago hospita
Description
Keywords
Alpha thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia patients, Kampala, Uganda