title: Correlation between the Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels with Laboratory Variables in the Clinical Severity of Sickle Cell Anemia in Congolese Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sickle cell anemia is an inflammatory disease and is characterized by chronic hemolysis. We sought to evaluate the association of lactate dehydrogenase levels with specific clinical phenotypes and laboratory variables in patients with sickle cell anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Sickle Cell Centre of Yolo in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two hundred and eleven patients with Sickle Cell Anemia in steady state were recruited. Seventy-four participants with normal Hb (Hb-AA) were selected as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average rates of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells tended to be significantly lower in subjects with Hb-SS (p<0.001). The average rates of white blood cells, platelets, reticulocytes and serum LDH were significantly higher in subjects with Hb-SS (p<0.001). The average rates of Hb, HbF, hematocrit and red blood cells of Hb-SS patients with asymptomatic clinical phenotype were significantly higher than those of the two other phenotypes. However, the average rates of white blood cells, platelets, reticulocytes, and LDH of Hb-SS patients with the severe clinical phenotype are higher than those of two other clinical phenotypes. Significant correlations were observed between Hb and white blood cell in severe clinical phenotype (r3 = -0.37 *) between Hb and red blood cells in the three phenotypes (r1 = 0.69 * r2 * = 0.69, r3 = 0.83 *), and finally between Hb and reticulocytes in the asymptomatic clinical phenotype and severe clinical phenotype (r1 = -0.50 * r3 = 0.45 *). A significant increase in LDH was observed in patients with leg ulcer, cholelithiasis and aseptic necrosis of the femoral head.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in serum LDH is accompanied by changes in hematological parameters. In our midst, serum LDH may be considered as an indicator of the severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department des Sciences de Bases, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Tite Minga
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mikobi
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-Immuno-rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Prosper
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lukusa Tshilobo
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Michel Ntetani
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Aloni
authors.affiliation: Department des Sciences de Bases, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mvumbi Lelo
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Pierre Zalagile
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Akilimali
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Recherche en Sciences Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muyembe-Tamfum
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit de Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Race
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit de Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthijs
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Genetics, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mbuyi Mwamba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase