PLASMA PROTEIN PROFILE IN CHILDREN WITH HbAS AND HbSS IN UGHELLI GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
*Emojevwe Victor and Igweh J. C
Department of Physiology
Delta State University, Abraka, Delta state Nigeria
E-mail: emojevwevictor@gmail.com
The plasma protein profile in children with HbAA, HbAS and HbSS was studied in this research with the view of knowing the group with higher plasma protein values and ascertaining the effects of crises in plasma protein level in sickle cell condition. In all 300 children between the ages of 5 to 15 were recruited from the sickle cell clinic of the Marierie Memorial Government Hospital, Ughelli, Delta state. The children were studied in seven groups. Plasma total protein was determined by the Biuret method using an Olympus AU400 automated chemistry analyzer while Plasma albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen determination were performed manually using a Sebia K20 electrophoresis chamber with Cellogel strips in Tris-hippurate buffer, pH 8.8 according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The results from this study revealed that the HbSS subjects had significantly higher fibrinogen levels (0.71±0.82) than the HbAS subjects (0.42±0.56) and healthy HbAA subjects (0.30±0.57). The mean globulin in the homozygous (HbSS) was significantly greater than the mean values found in normal children (P< 0.05). Also, a statistically significant higher mean globulin value was observed in HbAS (P< 0.05). The total protein level was also found to be higher in HbSS when compared with that of the control (HbAA) and the carriers (HbSS) at P<0.05. The results also showed that when HbSS subjects were in crisis, it was only the fibrinogen level that increased statistically significantly (P<0.05). It was concluded from this study that individuals with HbSS and HbAS have higher total plasma protein and globulin and individuals with HbSS have higher fibrinogen concentration than normal healthy individuals with HbAA of same age grade. Crisis was also said to be associated with higher fibrinogen values in HbSS individuals but does not influence the values of globulin, albumin and total plasma protein hence regular estimation of the plasma fibrinogen levels in individuals with sickle cell condition might be a useful indicator of hyper coagulability and early determination of plasma fibrinogen will help in diagnosing hyperfibrinogenaemia earlier and may help to prevent vaso-occlusive crises. It was therefore recommended that the causes of these differences observed be ascertained in further studies.