RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SICKLE CELL NEPHROPATHY AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF HAEMOLYSIS AMONGST PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA IN KANO, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Introduction

Advancements in the care of patients with sickle cell anaemia have led to significant improvement in survival with many patients reaching adulthood. As they age, long-term complications of the disease manifest in them, notable amongst which is nephropathy which is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in them. There is limited information about sickle cell nephropathy and some biochemical markers of haemolysis that can detect it early in our setting. This study aimed to determine the relationship between some indirect markers of haemolysis and sickle cell nephropathy.

Methodology

The study was a descriptive cross-sectional one where 204 adolescent and adult patients with sickle cell anaemia attending the clinic of AKTH Kano were recruited. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized. Blood samples were taken for determination of serum bilirubin, LDH, and reticulocyte count. Spot urine was used to quantitatively determine albumin to creatinine ratio. Data collated was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. P-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Result

Two hundred and four (204) participants were enrolled in to the study. Their mean age was 19.6±5years. Females were the majority 131/204 (64.2%). The median (IQR) serum lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and reticulocyte count were 607.0(487.3-758.5) U/L, 54.5(37.0-119.0) umol/L, 16.0(11.3-29.0) umol/L and 4.0(3.0-8.4%) respectively. Sickle cell nephropathy was found in 29/204 (14.2%). There were positive significant associations between sickle cell nephropathy with raised serum bilirubin and serum lactate dehydrogenase (p-value = 0.02 and 0.032 respectively).

Conclusion

Sickle cell nephropathy is common amongst patients with sickle cell anaemia and raised serum bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase are predictors of sickle cell nephropathy.

Cancer in Nigeria: a 10-year analysis of the Kano cancer registry

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a major health problem in developed countries and epidemiological evidence shows the emergence of a similar tend in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV/AIDS is predicted to augment the cancer burden. The present study analyses the profile of cancers recorded in the first decade (1995-2004) of establishment of the Kano cancer registry (KCR) a histology/cytology-based registry in Kano, Nigeria.

METHODS

Records of cancer cases diagnosed based on histology or cytology and entered into the registry were retrieved and categorized by type/organ sites affected according to International Classification of Diseases for Oncology

RESULTS

There was a steady rise in frequency of cancer over the period where a total of 1990 cancer cases were recorded comprising of 1001 (50.3%) males and 989 (49.7%) females. Cancers of the cervix (22.9%), Breast (18.9%), Ovary (8.2%), non-melanoma skin cancer (6.3%), and Uterus (6.2%) were the most frequent female cancers. In males, cancer of the prostate (16.5%), bladder (10.2%), non-melanoma skin (9.9%), colorectum (9.3%) and connective tissue (6.3%) were most common. Burkitt's lymphoma (31.4%), other lymphoreticular cancers (23.8%) and retinoblastoma (20%) predominated in children.

CONCLUSION

The KCR supports existing predictions of an increase in incidence of cancers in developing countries. There is need for establishment of comprehensive cancer control programmes in developing countries for the common cancers of the cervix, breast, prostate, bladder, skin and colorectum which are amenable to prevention, early detection and cure.