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.