Haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in pregnant women: Influence of gestational age and parity

Haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in pregnancy have been scarcely examined in Nigeria especially on the influences of gestational age and parity. In order to assess these influences, 100 pregnant and 100 non pregnant subjects (controls) of age range 18 – 40 years were studied. Packed cell volumes (PCV), relative whole blood viscosity (RWBV), relative plasma viscosity (RPV), plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), euglobulin lysis time (ELT), total proteins and albumin were estimated. The differences in the values of PCV, RWBV, RPV, PFC, total proteins, albumin and globulin withgestational age were not statically significant (P>0.05) while the values of ELT decreased with increase in gestational age (P 0.05). In conclusion, this studyhas shown that gestational age and parity had little or no effect on the haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities during pregnancy

Occurrence of haemolysin antibodies among sickle cell anaemia patients within Calabar metropolis of Nigeria

The role of alpha () and beta () haemolysins in blood transfusion has been well documented. However, the occurrence of haemolysins and its attending problems in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients has limited appearance in the literatures especially in black Africa. This study was therefore designed to investigate the occurrence of and haemolysins in SCA patients within Calabar metropolis. A total of 50 normal controls and 54 SCA patients attending the sickle cell clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State of Nigeria, were screened for haemolysins and quantitated using standard techniques. The distribution of haemolysins in the SCA patients was (16.7), (11.1) and + (16.7%). Their ABO blood groups were normally distributed in this order O>>A>B>AB (61.1, 20.4, 11.1 and 7.5%, respectively). The occurrence of haemolysin among the Ogroup was 15.2%, while haemolysin was 12.1% and + haemolysin was 30.3%. Control samples gave non-significantly lower haemolysin values than in SCA patients (P>0.05), but in the same order (, 9.0, , 7.0, and +, 9.0%). The higher prevalence of haemolysins in SCA could be a major limiting factor in donation of blood, blood selection and transfusion into SCA patients. Consequently, greater care should be taken during cross match of blood for SCA patients especially in multiple transfusion procedures

Medical Laboratory Science Training, Practice and Prospects Under the Medical Laboratory Sciences Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) ACT 11 of 2003

No abstract Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.13(1) 2004: 66 - 6

Review Article: Research Laboratory Safety and Security

No abstract Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.12(2) 2003: 11 - 1

Haemorrheologic profiles in apparently healthy pregnant women in Calabar, Nigeria

Rheological properties can be influenced by packed cell volume, plasma viscosity, red cell aggregation and red cell deformability. In order to assess haemorrheologic activity in pregnancy, 100 pregnant and100 non-pregnant subjects (controls) of age range 18 - 40 years were studied to estimate packed cell volume (PCV), relative whole blood viscosity (RWBV), relative plasma viscosity (RPV) and plasmafibrinogen concentration (PFC) using standard manual techniques. PVC and RWBV were significantly lower in pregnant women than non-pregnant subjects (P 0.05). In conclusion, haemorrheologic activitydiffers significantly in pregnancy due to decreased values of PCV, RWBV and increased values of RPV and PFC

Haemorheologic and Fibrinolytic Activities of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a major infectious disease with very high prevalence in Nigeria which may increase with the incidence of HIV infection. Severe pulmonary tuberculosis is often complicated by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) because of the association between inflammation and haemostatic changes that can result in an acute phase response and a hypercoagulable state. This research was undertaken to provide information on the haemorheologic and fibrinolytic activities of Nigerian pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A total of one hundred pulmonary tuberculosis patients, (fifty two males and forty eight females) aged 15-45 years, attending the tuberculosis clinics at Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar were investigated. Twenty two of these patients were sero-positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while seventy eight were sero-negative. Seventy apparently healthy subjects, age and gender matched were used as controls. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), relative plasma viscosity (RPV), euglobulin lysis time (ELT) and plasma fibrinogen concentration were estimated using standard methods. Results showed significant increase in ESR, RPV, ELT and fibrinogen levels (P<0.05) approaching normal values as therapy progressed. The ESR of the sero-positve tuberculosis subjects was significantly higher (p<0.05) when comparison was made with tuberculosis subjects who were sero-negative for HIV. This work has shown abnormal rheology and impaired fibrinolysis in tuberculosis patients. A combination of these two abnormalities may predispose pulmonary tuberculosis patients to thrombosis and vascular complications. For better treatment and monitoring of response to therapy of tuberculosis patients, it is recommended that plasma viscosity, euglobulin lysis time test and fibrinogen concentration should be part of the routine tests.Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis, haemorheology, fibrinolysis, thrombosis

Haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in diabetics resident in Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that results in significant morbidity and mortality from such complications as neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease and macrovascular disease. Many of theprevious haemostatic studies in diabetic Nigerians focused on platelet count and activity with scanty information on haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities. A total of 50 diabetic subjects aged between35 - 75 years attending the diabetic clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital were selected for the study. 50 age-matched non-diabetic apparently healthy volunteers were used as controls. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), relative plasma viscosity (RPV), plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC) and euglobulin lysis times (ELT) were estimated using standard methods. There was significant increase inFBS, RPV, PFC and ELT of diabetics when compared with the non-diabetic controls (P 0.05). It was observed in this study that the diabetic subjects had defective fibrinolysis and hyperviscous plasma as revealed by significantly increased RPV, PFC and prolongedELT when compared with apparently healthy controls. This shows that the diabetics are prone to developing vascular and thrombotic complications. It may be necessary to incorporate RPV, PFC andELT as routine tests for better management of these patients