IMPACT OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PROFILES OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have impaired immunity with vulnerability to infections including parasitic infestations. Majority of SCD patients live in nations where urinary schistosomiasis is endemic. Objective: To determine the impact of urinary schistosomiasis on haematological and clinical profiles of SCD. Methodology: We compared the haematological and clinical parameters of SCD patients with and without schistosomiasis in Nigeria. Result: SCD patients with schistosomiasis had significantly lower haematocrit with higher reticulocytosis, prevalence of iron deficiency, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, prevalence of bacterial urinary tract infections and ESR. However, bilirubin levels did not significantly differ between the two groups. SCD Patients with schistosomiasis had significantly higher number of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and acute chest syndrome (ACS). But there were no significant differences in number of episodes of priapism and stroke between the two groups. Conclusion: Urinary schistosomiasis in SCD patients was associated with inflammatory response, bacterial urinary tract infections, iron deficiency and raised frequencies of hyper-viscosity associated morbidities such as VOC and ACS. Conversely, urinary schistosomiasis did not increase rate of haemolysis in SCD patients, hence frequencies of haemolysis associated morbidities such as priapism and stroke were not raised. SCD patients in schistosomiasis endemic countries should have regular urine tests for early detection and treatment of schistosomiasis in order to avert its adverse interaction with SCD.

Keywords

• Sickle Cell Disease
• Schistosomiasis
• Crisis
• Chest
• Priapism
• Stroke