1Kani, K. M., 2Ibrahim, Z., 2Habeeb, A.,2Ibrahim, U. A., and *4Ahmed, S. G.
1Department of Haematology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Nigeria
2Department of Haematology, Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital, Dutse, Nigeria
3Department of Paediatrics, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
4Department of Haematology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria *Correspondence to: drsagirahmed@yahoo.com; +2348034418015
Abstract:
Background: In malaria-endemic populations, sickle cell trait (SCT) protects against both severe and non-severe malaria, but inconsistencies exist about protective effect of SCT on asymptomatic malarial parasitemia (AMP). Surprisingly, the effect of Hb-phenotypes on AMP has not been explored among blood donors in Nigeria or other malaria-endemic countries, where risks of AMP and transfusion transmitted malaria (TTM) are high. The objective of this study is to determine risk of AMP with respect to donor Hb-phenotypes (SCT versus HbAA), and elucidate clinical implications of AMP with respect to risk of TTM vis-à-vis the practice of transfusion medicine in Nigeria, and by implication other malaria-endemic tropical countries.
Methodology: Analysis of 100 blood donors with AMP (cases) and 100 donors without AMP (controls) was performed. Frequencies of SCT and HbAA (determined by Hb electrophoresis) among cases and controls were compared by X2-test. Risks of AMP (detected by microscopy) with respect to Hb-phenotypes were expressed as Odds ratios (OR) by case-control logistic regression. Continue reading “Haemoglobin phenotypes and the risk of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia among blood donors in northwest Nigeria: clinical implications in the practice of tropical transfusion medicine”