The Pervasiveness of α-Thalassemia in Patients Presenting to Health Facilities in Central and Western Regions of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Hemoglobinopathies may have impact on the red cell indices, and these are critical to the diagnosis of thalassemias. The key components of the complete blood count have been used in the diagnosis of α+-thalassemia. That is the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and red blood cell counts (RBC) could therefore be used as a threshold to classify individuals into suspected and non α+-thalassemic respectively. In a recent report, the MCH and MCV values were found to be in the order, i.e., normal> Heterozygote > homozygote whilst erythrocytes counts was found in opposites direction homozygote> Heterozygote> normal. Method: In all, 277 patients presenting to health facilities in the study areas were recruited to participate. Five ml venous blood was taken and tests were carried out to determine the presence of α+-thal and malaria parasites in the blood samples of participants. Result: The outcome of this study showed individuals with α+-thalassemia disorder [heterozygous (61.8%) and homozygous (63.2%)] were moderately anemic (Hb =8-10.9 g/dl) compared to those with normal genotype (47.8%). MCV and MCH were significantly (p< 0.001) higher in individuals with normal (αα/αα) genotype compared with those homozygous (-α/-α) and heterozygous (-α/αα) for α+-thalassemia. Clearly, the values for MCH and MCV were in the order; normal > heterozygote > homozygote. Erythrocytes count was found in opposites direction i.e. homozygote > heterozygote> normal. Conclusion: The α+- thalassemia is strongly associated with reduction in MCV, MCH, mild reduction in hemoglobin and an elevated erythrocytes count. Keywords: α+-thalassemia, hemoglobin, MCH, MCV, RBC