Evaluation of Haemostatic Profile of Homozygous Haemoglobin S Disease in Benin City, Nigeria: Are there any gender differences?

Abstract

In Sickle cell disease (SCD), nearly all components of haemostasis such as platelet function, procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic systems are altered with a resultant hypercoagulable state. This study compares some haemostasis parameters in SCD patients in steady clinical state with control subjects and also investigates gender differences in prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) among SCD patients and control subjects. Plasma (PT) and activated PTT were assayed using reagents supplied by Trinity Biotech, Inc (USA). The measured parameters were compared using unpaired Students-t-test. The PT and aPTT were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in SCD patients than controls. The PT and aPTT were significantly higher (p<0.001) in both male and female SCD patients than male and female control subjects. Whereas gender differences were observed in PT (p<0.001) among control subjects, no gender difference was observed in PT and aPTT among SCD patients. Sickle cell disease patients in steady clinical state has prolonged PT and aPTT and no gender differences exist in PT among SCD patients.