Establishment of reference values for prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen in adults in Burkina Faso.

The ordering of clinical haemostasis tests is increasing in Burkina Faso due to the newly emergence of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, appropriate local reference values (RV) are lacking. Our study aimed to establish RV for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and fibrinogen assays. In 2020, we carried out a cross-sectional study at the transfusion centre of Ouagadougou and included 280 healthy blood donors (140 males and 140 females) as reference subjects (RS) according to CLSI guidelines (C28 A3). From each RS a 5 mL blood sample had been withdrawn in citrated tubes. We performed PT, aPTT and fibrinogen assays using the Sysmex™ CA660 coagulometer and Siemens™ reagents. RV were calculated using the "central 95 percentile" method. Reference values of PT, aPTT and Fibrinogen were respectively [73.84%-117.50%], [20,01-29.45] seconds and [2.04-3.83] g/L for females and [58.81%-112,31%] seconds, [20,9-29,98] seconds and [1.58-3.35] g/L for males. We report for the first time locally appropriate haemostasis RV for the Burkina Faso adult's population. They will be of clinical use to our health care professionals.

[Early Screening Of Sickle Cell Disease: Knowledge And Behaviors Of Pregnant Women And Health Workers In Burkina Faso]. / Depistage Precoce De La Drepanocytose : Connaissances Et Attitudes De Femmes Enceintes Et d'Agents De La Sante Au Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIVE: Early detection of sickle cell disease significantly reduces sickle cell mortality, but it is not practiced in Burkina Faso where the disease is responsible for significant early mortality. The objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between this finding and the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women with hemoglobinopathy and health workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study was cross-sectional and conducted in three health districts of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from June 17 to July 31, 2019. Data were collected using a structured individual interview guide. RESULTS: 200 pregnant women with hemoglobinopathy and 50 active health workers had participated in the study. Most women defined sickle cell disease as a bone disease, did not know its transmission mode or the hemoglobin type of their child (ren); 95,4% had never heard of neonatal screening for sickle cell disease. Health workers had limited knowledge of sickle cell disease (16-87%), and only 30% offered neonatal screening to pregnant women with hemoglobinopathy. CONCLUSION: the awareness of the population and training health workers on sickle cell disease, supported by a policy of good access to screening tests, would improve the prognosis of sickle cell disease in Burkina Faso.

OBJECTIF: le dépistage précoce, stratégie ayant amélioré la survie des drépanocytaires, n'est pas pratiquée au Burkina Faso où la maladie est responsable d'une mortalité précoce importante. L'objectif de l'étude était d'analyser la relation entre ce constat et les connaissances et attitudes de femmes gestantes porteuses d'une hémoglobinopathie et des agents de santé. MATÉRIELS & MÉTHODES: l'étude était transversale et conduite dans trois districts sanitaires de Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso, du 17 juin au 31 juillet 2019. Les données étaient recueillies à l'aide d'un guide d'entretien individuel structuré. RÉSULTATS: 200 femmes enceintes porteuses d'une hémoglobinopathie et 50 agents de santé en activité avaient participé à l'étude. La majorité des femmes enquêtées définissait la drépanocytose comme une maladie des os, ne connaissaient pas son mode de transmission, ni le type d'hémoglobine de leur(s) enfant(s) ou n'avaient jamais entendu parler de dépistage néonatal de la drépanocytose. Les agents de santé avaient pour 16 à 87%, des connaissances limitées sur la drépanocytose, 30% seulement proposaient un dépistage néonatal aux femmes enceintes porteuses d'une hémoglobinopathie. CONCLUSION: l'information de la population et la formation des agents de santé sur la drépanocytose, soutenues par l'accès aux tests de dépistage améliorerait le pronostic de la drépanocytose au Burkina Faso.

Red blood cell alloimmunisation in multi-transfused patients from an haemodialysis service in Burkina Faso.

Background: In Burkina Faso, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains the crucial anaemia treatment following chronic renal failure (CRF) as erythropoietin and its analogues are unavailable. However, blood group matching beyond the ABO and Rhesus is not common in Burkina Faso. Thus, alloimmunisation is a potential issue for transfused patients. Objective: Our study aimed to identify anti-erythrocyte antibodies in multi-transfused CRF patients at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from October 2018 to November 2019, included CRF patients who had received at least two RBC units. We screened patients for the presence of RBC antibodies using three commercial Cells panels and identified antibody specificities for positive screenings using 11 Cells panels for an indirect antiglobulin test (IAT) in a low ionic strength microcolumn gel-card system. Results: Two hundred and thirty-five patients (45.1% female; average age: 41.5 years) were included. The median number of blood units received per patient was 10 (interquartile range: 5-20). The overall alloimmunisation rate was 5.9% (14/235). Antibodies identified included: anti-D (1 case), anti-C (1 case), anti-D+C (4 cases), anti-CW (1 case), anti-E (1 case), anti-S (1 case) and anti-Lea (1 case). In four positive patients, the specificity of the antibodies was indeterminate. No risk factors were associated with alloimmunisation. Conclusion: In Burkina Faso, screening for RBC alloantibodies should be mandated for patients at risk. The high rate of indeterminate antibodies suggests the need to develop a local RBC antibody panel adapted to the local population.