ABSTRACT
Background: Abnormal lipid homeostasis has been reported in sickle cell anaemia (SCA)
as well as in other haematological disorders. However, there is little information on the lipid
profile of SCA subjects in vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). This study determined the lipid profile
of adult SCA subjects in VOC and in steady state (SSCA). Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight
(58) adults with HbSS (30 in steady state and 28 in vaso-occlusive crisis) and 24 age-matched
healthy individuals with HbAA genotype were recruited into this study. Standard methods were
used for the determination of blood pressure (BP), packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood
cell count (WBC) and haemoglobin phenotype. After an overnight fast, 5 ml of venous blood
was obtained from each SSCA and the controls while samples were collected upon admission
in the VOC group. Plasma lipid profile was determined using enzymatic method. Differences
between two groups were determined using independent Student’s t-test or Man-Whitney
U as appropriate. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Plasma total
cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly lower while the ratio
of triglyceride (TG) to HDL (TG/HDL) was significantly higher in SSCA compared with the
controls. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) and TC were significantly lower in SCA subjects in VOC
compared with controls. However, TC, TG, LDL and TG/HDL were significantly lower while
HDL was significantly higher in VOC compared with SSCA. Conclusion: Sickle cell anaemia
subjects have defective fasting lipid metabolism which becomes pronounced with VOC.