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.