title: Haematological values from a Gambian cohort--possible reference range for a West African population.
abstract: The objective of this study was to establish haematological reference ranges for the West African subregion using a Gambian cohort. We analysed full blood counts from 1279 subjects aged > or =1 year. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were performed. Haematological mean values, medians and 90% reference values were calculated and related to malnutrition in children and thinness and/or obesity in adults. Haemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased with age (P < 0.00001). There were gender-related changes in Hb from 15 years of age (P = 0.001) and for MCV only in adults (P = 0.0002). Hb was significantly reduced in underweight and stunted children (P = 0.0001 and 0.0002, respectively) but was unaffected by thinness or obesity in adults. White blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts were highest under 5 years and declined significantly with age (P < 0.0001 and 0.0001). While, there were no gender-related differences with WBC, there were higher WBC counts in underweight (P = 0.0001) and stunted (P < 0.0001) children. Adult females had significantly higher mean platelet counts compared with males (P = 0.006). The mean and median values of haematological parameters in The Gambia are similar to other standards but the 90% reference range for each parameter encompasses lower values when compared with Western standards.
authors.affiliation: Bacterial Diseases Programme, Medical Research Council (UK) Laboratories, The Gambia. iadetifa@mrc.gm
authors.forename: I M O
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Adetifa
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson-Sillah
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ibanga
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donkor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Corrah
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adegbola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D012016:Reference Values; D013851:Thinness / Q000097:blood; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000097:blood