title: Defective lipid metabolism in sickle cell anaemia subjects in vaso-occlusive crisis.
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).
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sickle cell anaemia subjects have defective fasting lipid metabolism which becomes pronounced with VOC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kehinde Sola
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Akinlade
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Christiana Odunayo
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Adewale
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Sheu Kadiri
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rahamon
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Foluke Atinuke
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Fasola
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: John Ayodele
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Olaniyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adedeji David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Atere
keywords: Lipid profile; sickle cell anemia; steady state; vaso-occlusive crisis