Glutathione and Bilirubin Concentrations as Markers of Oxidative Stress Measured among Sickle Cell Anaemia Subjects Attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar Nigeria

Aims: This study aimed at examining the oxidative stress level of sickle cell anaemia subjects using glutathione and bilirubin levels as markers as well as the red cell parameters. Study Design: Case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar-Nigeria, between August 2018 and July 2019. Methodology: Subjects comprised 45 SCA patients (27 females, 18 males; age range 10-45 years) attending clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, Nigeria and equal number of age and sex-matched control subjects with Hb AA. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by standard methods. The red cell parameters were analysed by automation using FY-Smart-1 auto haematology analyzer. Bilirubin assay was performed using the colorimetric method, while glutathione was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and haematocrit values of SCA subjects were significantly lower (p=0.001) compared to values from control subjects, while the red cell indices and red cell distribution width values were increased in SCA subjects (p=0.001). The Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin were significantly increased (p=0.001) among SCA subjects, while the glutathione concentration values were reduced (p=0.001) when compared to values obtained from control subjects. Conclusion: SCA subjects have marked red cell size variation, lymphocytosis and thrombocytosis. The haemolytic events that occur in sickle cell anaemia results in glutathione depletion.

Hepatitis D Virus in Chronic Liver Disease Patients with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Aims: It is well known that patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be co-infected with hepatitis D virus (HDV), thus worsening and complicating their condition. The prevalence of HBV and HDV co-infection in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital has not been ascertained. This study was therefore carried out to determine the frequency of hepatitis D virus among chronic liver disease (CLD) patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, Nigeria, from September 2012 to March 2013. Methodology: A total of 91 subjects were recruited for this study, 76 were CLD patients, while 15 were apparently healthy subjects. Sera samples were subjected to HBsAg using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and finally the HBsAg positive and negative samples were screened using ELISA technique for hepatitis D virus. Results: Out of the 91 subjects recruited for this study, 76 (83.5%) tested positive for HBsAg, and were CLD patients. Out of the 76 CLD patients who tested positive for HBsAg, 46 (60.5%) had a co-infection with HDV, while 30(39.47%) showed no co-infection. HBV/HDV co-infection was higher in males 27(58.7%) than females 19 (41.3%). Conclusion: This study shows a high rate of HDV/HBV co-infection which was higher in males than females with chronic liver disease in UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria.