Original Research

Haematological indices of sickle cell patients with chronic leg ulcers on compression therapy

Oluwatoyin A. Babalola, Ayodele Ogunkeyede, Abayomi B. Odetunde, Foluke Fasola, Anthony A. Oni, Chinedum P. Babalola, Adeyinka G. Falusi
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 9, No 1 | a1037 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1037 | © 2020 Oluwatoyin A. Babalola, Ayodele Ogunkeyede, Abayomi B. Odetunde, Foluke Fasola, Anthony A. Oni, Chinedum P. Babalola, Adeyinka G. Falusi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 23 April 2019 | Published: 21 December 2020

About the author(s)

Oluwatoyin A. Babalola, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Ayodele Ogunkeyede, Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Abayomi B. Odetunde, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Foluke Fasola, Department of Haematology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Anthony A. Oni, Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Chinedum P. Babalola, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Adeyinka G. Falusi, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; and, Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF), Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Recurrent chronic leg ulcers and its are morbidities associated with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Compression therapy increases the rate of healing of these ulcers and also decreases the rate of recurrence.

Objective: This study evaluated the haematological parameters of patients with SCA and chronic leg ulcers placed on high compression bandaging to provide data for improved ulcer management and prevention.

Methods: Eighteen patients with SCA and chronic leg ulcers were recruited for treatment by compression therapy in Ibadan, Nigeria, from March to June 2015. Eighteen SCA patients with no history of chronic leg ulcers were age and sex matched and recruited as controls. Blood samples, wound biopsies and swabs were collected at different time points for full blood count, microbiology, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Haemoglobin variants were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Fasting blood sugar was tested for leg ulcer patients to determine diabetic status.

Results: Ulcers ranged from 0.5 cm2 to 416 cm2 (median: 38.4 cm2). Post-intervention ulcer size ranged from 0.0 cm2 to 272 cm2 (median: 18.6 cm2, p < 0.001); four ulcers completely healed. Compared to the control group, haematological indices at commencement of treatment were more severe in leg ulcer patients (p = 0.02). No patients with chronic leg ulcer was diabetic. Microorganisms isolated from the leg ulcers include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus sp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca.

Conclusion: Measures to improve haematological parameters during leg ulcer treatment in SCA patients should be taken to aid wound healing.


Keywords

chronic leg ulcer; sickle cell anaemia; wound healing; haematological parameters; compression therapy

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