Evaluation of Haematological and Immune Status of Patients with Renal Dysfunction in Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department in a Tertiary Health Institution

Background: Renal dysfunction is a global public health issue where steadily progressive degradation of kidney function leads to multiple haematological and immune dysfunctions that, if adequate steps are not taken to monitor them, it renders patients vulnerable to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed at evaluating the haematological and immune status of patients with renal dysfunction in blood and transfusion department of the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: Eighty-eight participants comprising 60 renal failure patients and 28 healthy control subjects were recruited into the study between January and August 2020. Haemoglobin parameters such as total white blood cell count (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and platelet (PLT) counts were assessed for the subjects and controls. Similarly, CD4 and CD8 counts were also determined for subjects and controls. Results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA version 25.0 for Windows. Results: PCV, Hb, and PLTs significantly reduced in subjects (24.0815.7%, 7.9711.76 g/dl, and 150.06184.18 x109/L) compared to the control (41.312.52%, 13.7610.74 g/dl, and 252.6159.34 x109/L) whereas WBC significantly increased in case (5.7912.99 x109/L) than control (5.1811.29 x109/L), P < 0.05. The CD4 and CD8 count significantly decreased (P<0.001) in patients with renal failure (180.22169.49 cells/µL and 145.76150.87 cells/pl) compared to control (925182.62 cells/µL and 809.8195.02 cells/pl) (P<0.05). There was a significant difference (P<0.001) between anaemia grades for patients with renal failure and control. Conclusions: Renal dysfunction is significantly associated with various degrees of irregularity in haematological parameters that need proper evaluation, monitoring and treatment.