Alloantibodies to glycoprotein La/LLa (anti-HPA-5a and -5b) and IIb/IIIa (anti-HPA1a, -3a and -4a) in Nigerian parous women.

Human platelet antibodies are often implicated in conditions such as neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and platelet refractoriness; however, the frequency of such alloantibodies has not been reported in Nigeria and West Africa. A cross section of apparently healthy adult female staff at a tertiary health facility in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, was screened for alloantibodies to human platelet antigens (HPA) using the GTI PakPlus qualitative solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Among the 100 women screened, no anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (anti-HPA-Ia,-3a and -4a) antibodies were detected; however, prevalence of anti-glycoprotein Ia/IIa (anti-HPA-5b) was 30% and pf anti-glycoprotein Ia/IIa (anti-HPA-5a) was 18%. Parity had a significant influence on the development to HPA antibodies (Fisher's Exact test: 11.683, P < 0.05; 13.577, P < 0.01). Platelet count did not have an influence on the development of antibodies (P > 0.05). Clearly, there is need to initiate platelet serology in this setting and also a need to educate women about the risk associated with frequent pregnancies. Furthermore, caution should be exercised when recruiting parous women as blood donors

Defining Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy: the Diagnostic Role of Serum Iron Indicators and C-reactive Protein

Background: Definition of iron deficiency anaemia could be problematic in areas where iron deficiency co-exists with infection. Aim: This study was aimed at providing the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in Port Harcourt and to examine the diagnostic role of serum iron indicators and C- reactive protein in defining iron deficiency anaemia. Methods: Iron status indicators; serum iron; TIBC; percentage transferrin saturation; serum ferritin; haemoglobin concentration and C-reactive protein were assessed in 1;371 pregnant women and 60 age-matched non-pregnant controls using standard colorimetric; immunoassay and serologic procedures. Results: Iron deficiency anaemia was present in 5of our apparently healthy non-pregnant women and in 8.9of the pregnant women. Iron deficiency (ferritin 12 ng/ml) accounted for 15of anaemia in the control group and 18.0of anaemia in the pregnant women. Elevated C-reactive protein (20 mg/l) was found to be common with the anaemic pregnant women (40.2) compared with 6.7among non-pregnant control group (p0.0001). The Hb; serum iron; TIBC;transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels in anaemic pregnant women were found to be significantly lower than the non-pregnant control group (p0.0001) while the C-reactive protein level in the anaemic pregnant women was significantly higher than the non-pregnant control group (p0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among apparently pregnant women in this locality is high. Part of the contributory factor may be infection or inflammation; hence; ferritin alone may not reliably define anaemia in pregnancy. A combination of haemoglobin concentration; transferrin saturation and serum ferritin concentration should form a regular practice in order to assist in reducing the incidence of anaemia in pregnancy

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus among blood donors in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Anti-HCV pre-transfusion testing among blood donors has not been introduced as a mandatory test in Rivers State, hence the risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV cannot be fully ascertained. One thousand (1000) apparently healthy blood donors were screened using a rapid second - generation test, the HEP C SPOT HCV assay. An overall prevalence of 2.9% was observed in this study. The highest prevalence (8.1%) was found among adults aged between 26 and 33 years and commercial donors.

Some haematological parameters in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected Africans: the Nigerian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Haematologic abnormalities are among the most common manifestations of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A specific diagnosis of cause, severity and mechanism of cytopenia should be sought because of specific treatments or intervention may be indicated for its correction. This study was to determine some haematological parameters in HIV/AIDS infected Nigerians. METHOD: One hundred HIV/AIDS infected previously antiretroviral naïve adult Nigerians, aged 18-58 year (males 47 and females 53) consisting of 88 symptomatic and 12 asymptomatic patients recruited into the antiretroviral pilot project in the Haematology department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between June 2002 to July 2003 were studied. Haematological parameters of hemoglobin, white cell count, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and differential leucocyte count were determined. Data was analyzed using a multipurpose statistical package version 9 SPSS. RESULT: The mean haemoglobin was 10.25 +/- 1.97 g/dl (range 6.31-14.2 g/dl), severe anaemia occurred in 80% of subjects while 20% were non-anaemic. Haemoglobin values was found positively correlated to lymphocyte count (r = .319, P = 0.01) and inversely correlated to ESR (r = -.343, P = 0.01) and neutrophil count (r = -.343, P = 0.01). Red cell morphology was variable with majority normochromic and normocytic (64%) and 36% showing hypochromia and anisopoikilocytosis. The mean total WBC count was 4.51 +/- 1.82 x 10(9)/l (range 0.9-8.2 x 10(9)/l). Leucopaenia occurred in 10/100 (10%) of study population. Total white cell count showed a significant inverse correlation to lymphocyte count (r = -.326, P = 0.01). The mean neutrophil count was 2.32 +/- 1.58 x 10(9)/l (range 0.00-5.48). Neutropaenia occurred in 24% of subjects. Neutrophil count showed a significant positive correlation with total white cell count (r = .314, P = 0.01) and a negative correlation with lymphocyte count (r = -.982, P = 0.01). Striking eosinophilia occurred in 3% of subjects. The mean platelet count was 170.07 +/- 49.03 x 10(9)/l (range 72-158 x 268 x 10(9)/l). Thrombocytopaenia occurred in 10/100 (10%) of subjects. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was higher than that in healthy Africans (mean 78.87 +/- 39.33mm fall/hour (range 0.2-158mm fall/hour). CONCLUSION: Observation from this study will serve as a guide to clinicians caring for HIV patients in taking rational decision on haematological complications of HIV infection. This constitutes further evidence of the need for routine monitoring of some haematological parameters of HIV/AIDS infected Africans and before commencement of highly active antiretroviral therapy to ensure that mortality and morbidity are minimized and quality of life optimized.

Rh antigen and phenotype frequencies and probable genotypes for the four main ethnic groups in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Rh is the most complex and polymorphic of the RBC group systems and is of major importance in transfusion medicine. Data are not available on the frequency of Rh antigens D, C, E, c, and e in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Two mL of venous blood was collected into an EDTA tube from each of 400 persons of mixed ethnic groups recruited for the study. The study population comprised 167 Ijaws (41.8%), 141 Ikwerres (35.2%), 50 Ekpeyes (12.5%), and 42 Ogonis (10.5%). The RBCs were phenotyped for D, C, E, c, and e antigens according to standard serologic methods. The most frequently occurring antigen was found to be c (99.8%),followed by e (98.7%), then D (95.0%), E (20.5%), and finally C (17.7%). The antigens occurred independently of the ethnic groups (p > 0.05) except the antithetical antigens Ee, which were found to be statistically significant in the Ijaw ethnic group when subjected to Pearson chi-square test (chi(2) = 9.890, p < 0.02). One (0.2%) of the study population was found to be c- while 20 (5.0%) were D-.