Level and effect of haemoglobin F on sickle cell anaemia among selected sickle cell disease patients in Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease of haemoglobin in which the red blood cells produce abnormal sickle haemoglobin that can polymerize when oxygen concentrations are low. Hypoxia, dehydration, infections, stress, high altitudes, temperature changes are factors that are responsible for the occurrence of sickle crisis and higher levels of haemoglobin F are known to reduce the severity of sickle cell crisis. The study aimed to establish and determine the level and effect of haemoglobin F on sickle cell anaemia among selected sickle cell disease patients in Ashanti Region. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 120 cases and 22 controls were enrolled with participants’ age ranging from 2 to 60 years of age. Full blood count, sickling, alkaline electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography tests were performed. Results: The test group (Mean ± SEM of 2.688 ± 0.07975) showed significantly decreased levels of RBC count [F (21,119) = 2.302; p < 0.0001]. The hemoglobin concentration was also significantly reduced [F (21,119) = 2.251; p < 0.0001] when the test group was compared to the control. The percentage fetal haemoglobin increased significantly comparing to the control group. Clinical presentation of the 120 selected sickle cell anemia patients showed hospitalization, multiple transfusions, osteomyelitis, leg ulcers,  anaemia, jaundice, bone and joint pain as common presenting features. Conclusion: This study revealed that the concentration of HbF has an effect on the clinical presentation of SCA disease which can form a base-line for the management of SCA patients