Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterised by the polymerisation of haemoglobin S (HbS) under low oxygen conditions, causing red blood cells to become rigid and sickle-shaped. The occurrence of renal complications following this abnormality has been a matter of concern. This study was conducted to assess serum haptoglobin, creatinine, markers of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), and selected haematological parameters in subjects with sickle cell disease in Ekiti State. Methods: A total of sixty-six (66) subjects, comprising thirty-seven (37) sickle cell disease patients and twenty-nine (29) controls, were recruited for this study. Their demographic data were collected, and 5 mL of venous blood was drawn for laboratory analysis. Human haptoglobin (HP), Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1), Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) were measured using ELISA, while Creatinine (Cr) was analysed using Jaffe’s alkaline picrate method. Full blood count was performed using a Mindray BC-5000 haematology analyser. Results: The results from homozygous (HbSS) subjects, especially those in crisis, showed significantly (p< 0.05) worse anaemia, thrombocytosis, and higher AKI markers. The correlation analysis of this study revealed that total white blood cells correlated with creatinine, and HP correlated with NGAL among homozygous SCD subjects in crisis. Conclusion: The findings indicate that inflammation and haematological abnormalities are hallmarks of SCD. There are notable renal and haematological changes in SCD, particularly in homozygous individuals during vaso-occlusive crisis. Therefore, KIM-1 and NGAL are more effective markers of kidney injury, as they can be elevated in both steady and crisis states, regardless of zygosity.
Suleman et al. (Mon,) studied this question.