Direct anti-human globulin test is negative in patients on routine unfractionated heparin anticoagulation maintenance haemodialysis in Maiduguri, Nigeria

This study examined the possibility of immunological sensitization of the individuals due to "planted" antigen in the blood of patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis. 28 female and 22 male patients with chronic renal failure aged between 15-62 years on regular unfractionated heparin anticoagulation maintenance haemodialysis at the Kidney Center of the University Of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were studied. Packed cell volume [PCV], blood film examination and direct anti-human globulin test [DTC] were conducted for each patient by standard methods. The female patients had mean PCV of 0.25 +/- 0.03 and the male 0.26 +/- 0.04. DCT was negative in all cases. Overall blood picture was that of features of microcytic anaemia which persisted after dialysis. Negative direct anti-human globulin tests suggests antibodies to "planted" antigen is not a complication in the studied patients. PCV levels and blood picture related to the severity of disease

Reticulocyte assessment as an indirect evaluation and elaboration of erythroid marrow output in the groups of pregnant women in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Nutritional anaemia is one of Nigeria's major public health problem among pregnant women. In this locality, no large scale study has been done to assess bone marrow activity in groups of pregnant women using Reticulocyte assessment. This result will serve as indirect evaluation and elaboration of erythroid marrow output in the pregnant women. To assess bone marrow activity in groups of pregnant women using Reticulocyte assessment as an indirect evaluation. 150 women covering the three trimesters of pregnancy were recruited into the study, prospectively. 101 multiparous and 49 primiparous pregnant women, consisting of 33 in the first trimester, 74 in the second trimester and 43 in the third trimester were investigated. Red blood cell count, Reticulocyte count and assessment were conducted by standard methods. The patients in the third trimester had statistically significant [P<0.05] lower reticulocyte values than those in the first and second trimesters. The primiparous pregnant women had statistically significant [P<0.05] higher reticulocyte values than the multiparous pregnant women. Absolute reticulocyte count results were 50.0 +/- 15.2, 60.0 +/- 18.4, 34.0 +/- 12.8 and 48.0 +/- 12.0 for first, second and third trimesters and combined group, respectively. Reticulocyte index was 1.5 +/- 0.6, 1.9 +/- 0.8, 0.8 +/- 0.6 for first, second and third trimesters, respectively and 1.5 +/- 0.5 for combined group. Reticulocyte production index was 0.9 +/- 0.2, 1.1 +/- 0.4, 0.7 +/- 0.5 and 0.7 +/- 0.4 for first, second and third trimesters and combined group, respectively. In this study, bone marrow activity as assessed by reticulocyte studies is on the lower side of the normal range, more so in the third trimester of pregnancy. Severe anaemia during pregnancy therefore remains endemic despite intervention measures such as the distribution of iron and folate tablets. One of the problems yet uninvestigated is the bone marrow turnover as affected by some other nutritional differences as well as malaria, heavy loads of helminths, and other inflammatory or infectious diseases. A successful strategy to combat anaemia, therefore, should address all the casual factors after their elucidation

Pathomorphosis of infantile septicaemia a study of peripheral blood cellular elements

A total of 50 infants with septicaemia were prospectively studied by standard methods to define the pattern of morphological changes that occurred in peripheral blood cellular elements. The mean value of packed cell volume, white blood cell count and platelet count result of the patients showed significant differences when compared with the controls, p<0.05. Morphological abnormalities in the red cells of the patients included among others, anisocytosis, microcytosis, poikilocytosis, hypochromia, polychromasia, spherocytosis and schistocytes. Observed changes in white cells included toxic granulation and cytoplasmic vacuolation in neutrophils, lobe segmentation anomaly and leucoerythroblastic features. Platelets showed the features of hypogranulation, with megakaryocytes seen in some cases. We suggest that these features could be used as adjunct in the suspicion of septicaemia and in gauging success of management

prevalence and intensity of malaria parasites in a sickle cell population in the university of Maiduguri teaching hospital, Nigeria

Malaria is holoendemic in Nigeria, particularly in our environment. This periodic assessment of its complication of sickle cell anaemia in our locality is worthwhile. To determine the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasitaemia in clinically and laboratory diagnosed sickle cell anaemia patients in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria in order to gauge its current effect as a management challenge. Blood samples were collected from 106 children with signs and symptoms of malaria aged 0-14 years attending the Emergency Paediatric Unit, Paediatric and Haematology Outpatient Clinics of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were taken by venepuncture into EDTA containers. Thick and thin smears were made and stained r using Giemsa and Leishman's stains respectively. The smears were examined under x100 objective microscope. The finding revealed a parasite rate of 56% with P.falciparum being the commonest specie. Highest mean parasite density was 36 parasites/microL in the 11-14 age group. However, malaria infection occurred in all the age groups studied. The prevalence of malaria in the patients in high and could hinder optimum response to the management of sickle cell anaemia. Proper counseling on preventive measures against exposure to malaria vectors by clinicians is necessary

Impaired superoxide dismutase level in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Infection with the human immunodeficieney virus [HIV] is assumed to induce oxidative stress with consequent depletion of antioxidant molecules. The aim of this study was to determine the superoxide dismutase [SOD] level in HIV patients, as a way of determining its possible role in the pathogenesis of HIV disease. We prospectively studied 233 HIV-antibody negative apparently healthy controls and 175 consecutive acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] patients for levels of SOD by standard methods. [Randox, UK]. The AIDS patients who were mainly distributed in the age grade of 20-29 years and 30-39 years, had mean SOD concentration of 96.83 +/- 20.44 U L. The control had mean SOD concentration of 187.33 +/- 21.12 U/L. The difference in these results was statistically significant [P<0.05]. SOD correlated negatively but not significantly for age in controls [r = -0.0468, p = 0.5878], and positively but not significantly in AIDS patients [r = 0.0109, p = 0.8965]. SOD is significantly depleted in the AIDS patients compared to controls. This result suggests that SOD which is a component of the total antioxidant system is greatly consumed in advanced HIV disease and is predicative of abnormalities in its replenishing mechanism. Regular measurement of SOD levels in HIV infection could serve as an adjunct in monitoring disease progression

Marginal copper status of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] is the proximal cause of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS]. Many factors are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of HIV infection, but he serum copper concentration of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are largely unknown, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We studied 81 HIV antibody negative apparently healthy controls and 107 consecutive AIDS patients for Serum Copper concentration by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The mean serum copper concentration of the controls was 109.70 +/- 21.80 mg/dl and 54.31 +/- 15.19 mg/dl for the AIDS patients. The difference between these results was statistically significant [P<0.05]. This result suggest that copper trace element supplementation many benefit the patients