Md. Babu Mia
Bangladesh Institute of Child Health(BICH) & Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital
Title: Role of RBC indices in screening of thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies in children
Biography:
Md.Babu Mia is currently working in Bangladesh Institute of Child Health(BICH) & Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital.
Abstract:
Background: Thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies are common genetic disorders in Bangladesh. There are expensive tests to diagnose thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies which are not affordable by majority of our patients. As cell counter is now widely available this study was undertaken to see the role of RBC indices in suggesting thalassaemia and advising further confirmatory tests like High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or haemoglobin electrophoresis.
Objective: To observe values of RBC indices as tools for screening of thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies.
Methodology: The retrospective study was carried out in Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital from November 2011 to November 2013. From the register, 555 subjects were taken as the study population. The study population were diagnosed as Beta thalassaemia major, Haemoglobin E beta thalassaemia, beta thalassaemia trait, haemoglobin E trait, haemoglobin E disease and normal haemoglobin status by HPLC. Their RBC indices were also taken from the register. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 11.5). Mean values of RBC indices were expressed in different age groups against the diagnosis. Independent sample ‘t’ test was done to show the difference of mean values of RBC indices between the Normal haemoglobin status and thalassaemia or haemoglobinopathies.
Result: Mean values of RDW was markedly raised in both beta thalassaemia major and haemoglobin E beta thalassaemia with low mean values of RBC count, MCV and MCH. Mean values of RBC count were significantly high in both beta thalassaemia trait and haemoglobin E trait when compared with control, though mean values of MCV and MCH were low in these groups but not statistically significant when compared with the control.
Conclusion: Simple observation of RBC indices can be utilized to screen thalassaemia and haemaglobinopathies. HPLC should be advised for confirmation. Key words: RBC indices, Thalassaemia, haemoglobinopathies, HPLC.