Comparative Study of Haemoglobin Tyres in Coasta(Yenagoa) and Hinterland (Owerri) Communities in South-Eastern Nigeria

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Prothrombin time and relative plasma viscosity of hypertensive patients attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

A study of the prothrombin time and relative plasma viscosity of hypertensive patients attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital was conducted. Three hundred (300) male and female subjects aged 25 - 65 years were enrolled for the study. Two hundred (200) subjects werehypertensive, while 100 apparently healthy normotensives served as control. Blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive patients was obtained from their medical records, while that of control subjects was measured using sphygmomanometer. Prothrombin time (PT) was measured on citrated plasma by Quick one-stage method, while relative plasma viscosity (RPV) was assessed using syringe viscometer. BP, PT and RPV were significantly increased (p<0.05) in hypertensives, when compared to control subjects. Furthermore, PT was observed to be significantly increased (p<0.05)among hypertensives having other complications namely cerebro-vascular accident and or diabetes over those without complications. It is concluded that hypertension interferes with the coagulation and rheology of blood.Keywords: Prothrombin time, plasma viscosity, rheology, hypertensio

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

Haematological profiles and serum lead levels in male fuel attendants in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

The haematological profiles and serum lead levels of male fuel station attendants in Calabar metropolis were determined. The haematological parameters assessed included haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit (HCT), total white blood cell count (WBC), differential white cellcounts and platelet count. Age range of participants was between 18 and 50 years and a total of 132 males participated in the study. Sixty (60) subjects were fuel station attendants, while 72 apparently healthy individuals, who were not filling station attendants and were not exposed to petroleum products by nature of their jobs served as control. Full blood count was performed on anticoagulated blood samples using an automated particle cell counter, while Lead level was estimated on serum obtained from blood samples in plain bottle using atomic absorptionspectrometry. There was no significant increase (p>0.05) in the haemoglobin concentration (Hb), haematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the fuel attendants, when compared with control subjects. Again, total white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte, monocyte and platelet counts, and lead level of fuel attendants’ did not significantly (p>0.05) change, when compared with the control group. However, the granulocyte count showed a significant reduction, when compared with the control group. Furthermore, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total white cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count, granulocyte count, and monocyte count were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in attendants, who had been exposed for 4 years and above. A significant rise (p<0.05) in their lead level was also observed. This study concludes that prolonged exposure to petroleumproducts affects haematological parameters.Keywords: Haematological profile, lead, petroleum products, fuel station attendant

Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time Test Values of Cigarette Smokers in Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria

Smoking injures blood vessel walls by damaging endothelial cells, thus increasing permeability to lipids and other blood components. It is a major health problem that results in significant morbidity and mortality. Scanty information on haemostatic studies on smokers was observed in Nigerian population especially in this locality, hence the reason for the study. The objective of this study is to assess the prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time test values of cigarette smokers and to determine the effects of cigarette smoking on these parameters. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin (PTTk) was investigated in 240 volunteers in Calabar, Cross-River state of Nigeria comprising 120 cigarette smokers and 120 age and sex matched non-cigarette smokers. Citrated blood samples were collected and their plasma analyzed using Standard methods within an hour of sample collection. The results show that mean prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time values of smokers were significantly lower (p<0.001), when compared with the non-smokers. Duration of smoking significantly lowered the mean values of partial thromboplastin time test and prothrombin time test of smokers (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively).  PT and PTT (K) of smokers did not vary significantly (p>0.05) based on sex and age. It was concluded that cigarette intake as well as duration of intake, reduces PT and PTT (K) values, thus may predispose cigarette smokers to rheologic abnormalities. Keywords: Cigarette-smoking, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, blood, plasm

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

Analyses of haematological malignancies records from University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria (1983 - 2008)

A 25 year retrospective analysis of haematological malignancies in Calabar, Nigeria was carried out based on data from the Haematology Record Registers and Records Department of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. The aim was to provide information on haematological malignancies in the study area and compare these with previous reports from other parts of Nigeria and worldwide. A total of 347 cases of haematological malignancies were diagnosed within the study period (January 1983 - December 2008) using conventional morphological examination of peripheral blood and bone marrow smears stained with Leishman and May-Grunwald-Giemsa stains. Distribution of the cases was studied based on age, sex and the type of malignancy. The most common haematological malignancy found was Leukaemia (35.2%), followed by Burkitt’s lymphoma (28.5%), Hodgkins/non-Hodgkins disease (26.8%), non-leukaemic myeloproliferative disease (5.2%) and multiple myeloma (4.3%). The malignancies were seen to be distributed throughout all ages. An overall male preponderance with an M: F ratio of 2:1. Burkitt’s lymphoma was the most common haematological malignancy in age group 0 - 20 years, while multiple myeloma was the commonest type in 41 - 60 age groups. The work has shown that leukaemia is the commonest type of haematological malignancy seen in all age groups in this locality.Keywords: Haematology, malignancy, Burkitt’s lymphoma, leukaemia, Hodgkins disease, myelom