Glomerular function in sickle cell disease patients during crisis

Abstract

An 8-month prospective study was carried out in 20 adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients 16 sickle cell anaemia (Hbss) and 4 sickle cell Hbc disease (Hbsc); who had vaso-occlusive crises within the study period to determine the extent of the effect of sickle cell crisis on glomerular function in SCD patients during crises. The male: female ratio was 1: 5.7 and their mean age was 21.1 ± 7.9 years. Creatinine clearance (CCr), as an index of glomerular function, was determined at the pre-crisis, crisis, 2 and 4 weeks post-crisis and at the end of the study period. The mean values of their CCr dropped from 113.37 ± 33.80mliVmin at pre-crisis stage to 96.39 ± 30.13mls^min during crisis (p < 0.001) indicating glomerular dysfunction. It improved significantly to 107.75 ± 30.20mls/min at 4 weeks post-crisis (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the mean values of CCr at the end of the study (116.20 ± 31.43ml, Vmin) compared to the pre-crisis stage (p >0.05). It is concluded that glomerular dysfunction in SCD patients during crisis is potentially reversible.