Chromatographic Pattern of haemoglobin (Hb) types (HbS, HbA2 and HbF) among individuals with sickle cell anaemia and those with sickle cell trait in a tertiary health institution, South eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: High performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been shown to be reliable in evaluating the different haemoglobin types. This study aimed to determine the mean level of haemoglobin types (HbS, HbA2 and HbF) among individuals with HbSS and HbAS phenotype using HPLC and also to compare Hb types with gender.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study during which the levels of HbS, HbA2 and HbF of participants with HbSS and HbAS were assayed using HPLC. Data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS) software, Version 20.

Results: Eighty three subjects, made up of 60 HbSS and 23 HbAS individuals participated in the study, with mean age of 12.9 years ±9.7  and 11.3 years ±8.9 respectively. Mean HbS level among HbSS participants was 80% ±7.9, which was statistically significant compared to that of HbAS, 37.2% ±13.1 (p= 0.001). Mean HbF and HbA2 level of 8.0% ±6.1 and 2.6% ±1.9 respectively among HbSS participants were also higher than the value of 3.8% ±3.7  and 2.5% ±1.3 among HbAS  participantss, though not statistically significant (p>0.05). Among HbSS and HbAS participants, males have higher HbS values of 80.4% and 37.8% respectively which was higher than that of the females, 79.7% and 36.9% though not significant. Conversely, male HbSS and HbAS have lower HbA2 and HbF levels compared to females, though not significant (p >0.05).

Conclusion: Individuals with HbSS have significantly higher HbS level compared to those with HbAS phenotype. HbF and HbA2 level were also higher among HbSS participants, though not significant. Males have higher HbS but lower HbA2 and HbF compared to females among the two groups. Establishment of levels of  HbS, HbA2 and HbF will serve as a guide in differencing individuals with HbSS from those with HbAS phenotype.