[Emergency treatment of sickle cell diseases in the Blood Diseases Department at the Koutoukou Maga National Teaching Hospital, Cotonou, Benin]

[Blood count abnormalities in the association of sickle cell disease and malaria in clinical hematology at the CNHU-HKM in Cotonou (Bénin)]

Introduction

Although a protective effect of hemoglobin S has been described, malaria has frequently been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease patients in Africa. Various cytopenias are frequently found on the haemograms of these patients. In Benin, a malaria-endemic zone with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease, the aim of this study was to establish and compare the blood count profile according to hemoglobin type in the association of sickle cell disease and malaria.

Material and method

This was a prospective descriptive study. It covered a 24-month period from October 2020 to October 2022. It included all patients with major sickle cell syndrome seen in clinical haematology and with a positive thick drop/parasite density, whatever the parasitaemia value. For each patient, a blood count was performed on the Sysmex XT 4000i machine, supplemented by a smear study after staining with May-Grunwald Giemsa. Data were analyzed using R 3.6.1 software.

Results

Three hundred non-redundant cases with a positive thick smear were identified in sickle cell patients, including 208 SS homozygotes (69.3%) and 92 SC heterozygotes (30.7%). In contrast, there were 181 non-redundant cases with a negative thick smear, including 119 SS homozygotes (65.7%) and 62 SC heterozygotes (34.3%). Among subjects with a positive thick smear, the majority of patients (70%) exhibited clinical symptoms. Severe malaria was observed in 58% of the cases. The proportion of severe malaria was higher in SS homozygote patients than in double heterozygote SC patients (p < 0.0001). The mean parasite density was higher in SS individuals (4 320.7 ± 2 185 trophozoites/pL) compared to SC individuals (1 564.4 ± 1 221 trophozoites/pL; p < 0.0001). Plasmodium falciparum was the only species identified. The mean hemoglobin level in impaludated SS subjects was 6.1 g/dL, significantly lower than that in non-impaludated SS subjects (p < 0.0001). The average white blood cell count in impaludated SS subjects was 16.58 G/L, compared to 13.2 G/L in those with a negative thick smear (p < 0.0001). Twenty cases of thrombocytopenia were found in SS subjects with a positive thick smear, compared to 6 cases in those with a negative thick smear. As for SC subjects with a positive thick smear, the average hemoglobin levels and white blood cell counts were 9.8 g/dL and 10.63 G/L, respectively, compared to 11.27 g/dL and 7.3 G/L in SC subjects with a negative thick smear. Eighteen cases of thrombocytopenia were found in subjects with a positive thick smear, compared to 17 cases in those with a negative thick smear.

Discussion

Sickle cell disease and malaria represent two major public health problems. However, contrary to popular belief, sickle cell disease is not immune to malaria infestation. Malaria is recognized as one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell patients, particularly children. In Benin, its association with sickle cell emergencies has already been reported.Our study found that malaria was predominantly associated with the homozygous SS form (p < 0.00001). Severe malaria was the most common clinical form. All malaria infestations in our series were due to Plasmodium falciparum, and parasitaemia was significantly higher in SS patients (p < 0.0001).The hematological profile of the association of sickle cell disease and malaria in homozygous SS individuals in our series showed characteristics of a normocytic normochromic anemia with neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis. Compared to non-malaria-infected SS individuals, there was a significant worsening of anemia, neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis, and a decrease in the average platelet count. In SC individuals, there was rather a microcytic normochromic regenerative anemia associated with neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis. Compared to non-malaria-infected SC individuals, there was a significant decrease in the rate of anemia and neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis. Anemia is a constant feature in homozygous sickle cell disease, and the low values recorded illustrate the hemolytic nature of malaria, especially in SS individuals, and the better tolerance of SC individuals. Furthermore, the low baseline hemoglobin levels make SS individuals more vulnerable to malaria-induced anemia compared to SC individuals. The observed leukocytosis is generally accompanied by reticulocytosis in the case of major sickle cell syndrome, which must be taken into account for result validation. It is the expression of compensatory bone marrow reaction to anemia and inflammatory mechanisms resulting from malaria infestation. Finally, thrombocytopenia was significantly more common in SC patients, even though they were adults living in malaria-endemic areas. Malaria can frequently induce thrombocytopenia through platelet consumption during the "rosetting" phenomenon. In SS patients, the effects of "rosetting" could be compensated for by the bone marrow stimulation induced by anemia. In our series with adult subjects living in an endemic area, thrombocytopenia is not a frequent biological disturbance. In a clinicalbiological context combining a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with anemia and neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis in a SS or SC sickle cell patient, the clinician should be able to consider malaria and confirm or rule out this diagnosis.

A Study of Childhood Malaria trends at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital: 2006 - 2018

Background

Several efforts have been put in place to reduce the global burden of malaria especially in children and in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of malaria control activities on the trend of childhood malarial diseases at a tertiary hospital in South-south Nigeria.

Methodology

A retrospective review of the case records of all malaria diagnoses including in-patient, out-patient, and emergency room, seen in the Department of paediatrics at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from January 2006 to December 2018 was conducted.

Results

There were 41, 863 malaria cases diagnosed over the 12 years with a decline in yearly diagnosis and admissions, from the year 2006 through 2018. Total malaria admissions were 578, (44.5/ year), giving a severe malaria incidence of 1.26%, and there were 164 malaria death cases, with a yearly average of 12. The causes of death in the children with malarial parasitaemia were severe anaemia in 75 (45.7%), hypoglycaemia in 14 (8.5%), cerebral malaria in 17 (10.4%), and prostration with other co-morbidities, 22 (13.4%). Thirty-six children (22%) were convulsing and died soon after admission, with a compounding diagnosis of aspiration and respiratory failure.

Conclusion

There is a gradual reduction in childhood malaria disease, admission, and death, though this is slower than anticipated based on efforts and strategies put in place by the Nigerian government and various organizations.

[Digestives diseases associated to sickle cell anemia in Lubumbashi: epidemiological and clinical aspects]

Introduction

la drépanocytose est une maladie génétique de transmission autosomique liée à une anomalie de structure de l'hémoglobine qui aboutit à la formation de l'hémoglobine S. Le but de notre étude est de colliger les cas de pathologies digestives rencontrées chez les drépanocytaires de Lubumbashi et d'en ressortir les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques.

Méthodes

il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective, descriptive transversale réalisée au Centre de Recherche de la Drépanocytose de Lubumbashi. Elle a concerné les dossiers des patients suivi pour drépanocytose ayant présenté une pathologie digestive au cours de notre période de 3 ans (de janvier 2015 à décembre 2017). Le recueil des données s'est fait grâce à une fiche d'enquête comportant différents paramètres d'étude comprenant: l'âge, le sexe, le motif de consultation, le diagnostic, le type de crise vaso-occlusive, les examens paracliniques réalisés, le traitement à l'hydroxyurée.

Résultats

nous avons colligé 206 dossiers (N=206) des patients drépanocytaires ayant fait une pathologie digestive sur un total de 403 dossiers examinés, ce qui représente une fréquence de 51,11% des pathologies digestives chez les drépanocytaires. Les 2 sexes sont représentés avec une légère prédominance féminine (51,94%) et un sexe ratio H/F: 0,92. La tranche d'âge la plus représentée est celle comprise entre 1 et 6 ans (32,52%), la moyenne d'âge: 11,8ans; écart-type: 21,9; âges extrêmes: 13 mois et 38 ans. Le motif de consultation est dominé par la fièvre (60,67%), la douleur abdominale (44,66%) et les troubles digestifs (30,09%). Les crises vaso-occlusives abdominales sont retrouvées chez 65 patients (31,55%) parmi lesquels 36 patients ont présenté 1 seule crise, 24 en ont présenté 2 et 5 patients en ont présenté 3. Les pathologies intestinales étaient présentes chez 121 patients (69,41%) dominées par la parasitose intestinale (retrouvée chez 58 patients dont l'examen des selles a mis en évidence 4 parasites: le Yersinia enterocolitis, l'entamoeba histolytica, le Giardia intestinalis et le clostridium difficile); les pathologies gastriques retrouvées chez 105 patients (50,97%) reparties en ulcère gastro-duodénal (45 patients) et gastrite (60 patients); la pathologie vésiculo-biliaire présente chez 40 patients (19,41%) comprenant la lithiase vésiculaire sans cholécystite 32 patients, la cholécystite lithiasique 5 patients et 3 cas de lithiase de la voie biliaire principale; 1 seul cas de pancréatite aigue diagnostiquée. Les pathologies associées les plus retrouvées dans notre étude sont respiratoires avec 169 cas (82,03%), oto-rhino-laryngologiques avec 157 cas (76,21%), les crises vaso-occlusives osseuses (146 cas soit 70,87%), pathologies uro-génitales avec 64 cas (31,06%) et le paludisme chez 51 patients (24,75%). Les atteintes spléniques et hépatiques ont constitué chacun 47 cas (22,81%) et 18 cas (8,73%). L'échographie a était demandé chez 79 patients mais seulement 31 d'entre-eux l'ont réalisé, faute de moyen financier car il coute sur place 20 dollars américains. En cas de splénomégalie cliniquement évidente, le corps de Jolly a été demandé chez 23 patients mais seulement 2 patients l'ont réalisé vu qu'il coute 10 dollars américains. L'hémogramme de routine fait de l'hémoglobine, hématocrite, bilan inflammatoire et la goutte épaisse a été réalisée chez tous nos patients mais le bilan hépatique, les examens des selles, des urines sont préconisés en fonction de la plainte. Sur nos 206 patients, 60 seulement d'entre eux étaient sous traitement à l'hydroxyurée (29,16%).

Conclusion

les pathologies digestives sont fréquentes chez les drépanocytaires et représentent quasiment la moitié de l'effectif drépanocytaire. Malheureusement, la meilleure prise en charge reste butée à la pauvreté manifeste de la population limitants les examens paracliniques très utiles dans la pathologie digestive rencontrée chez le drépanocytaire.