Evaluation of Protein C in Nigerian Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Steady State

Background: Sickle cell disease which is considered to be a hypercoagulable state has a worldwide distribution. Protein C is a naturally occurring anticoagulant with anti inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties.

Objective: To evaluate the level of Protein C in Nigerian Patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in steady state.

Methods: This is a comparative cross sectional study carried out in Ibadan on 40 HbSS patients in steady state attending Haematology clinic at University College Hospital, Ibadan and 40 age and sex matched healthy normal HbAA control. Protein C was assayed with Amax Destiny Coagulometer using clot based method. Liver function test (LFT) was done with Hitachi 912.

Results: A significant decrease in Protein C was found in HbSS patients in steady state (median value 62.8%) compared with HbAA control Subjects (74.6%) (p = 0.00).

There was no significant difference in the LFT of the HbSS patients and the control HbAA subjects, P > 0.05 in all the parameters measured. (Alanine Transaminase (ALT), P = 0.82; Albumin, P = 0.12; Total Protein, P =0.37).

Conclusion: The low Protein C level observed in HbSS patients in steady state may not be due to hepatic dysfunction as LFT in the subjects were found to be normal.