ALTERATIONS IN PLATELET AND LEUCOCYTE PROFILES AS INDICATORS OF HYPERINFLAMMATION AND THROMBO-INFLAMMATORY STATE IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic inflammatory haemoglobin disorder characterized by vaso-occlusion, endothelial dysfunction, and abnormal activation of immune and haemostatic pathways. Leucocytes and platelets contribute significantly to the thrombo-inflammatory processes involved in disease progression and vaso-occlusive crisis. This study evaluated alterations in leucocyte and platelet profiles among patients with SCD during crisis and steady state compared with healthy controls in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among One hundred and eighty (180) participants comprising Sixty-seven (67) SCD patients in vaso-occlusive crisis, Fifty-three (53) SCD patients in steady state, and Sixty (60) apparently healthy controls. Venous blood samples were collected into EDTA bottles and analysed using an automated haematology analyser. Leucocyte parameters (total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils) and platelet parameters (platelet count and mean platelet volume) were evaluated. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical methods, and significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: The findings revealed significant alterations in leucocyte and platelet profiles among SCD patients compared with controls. Total white blood cell count and neutrophil levels were significantly elevated among patients in vaso-occlusive crisis, indicating enhanced inflammatory activation. Platelet count was significantly increased among SCD patients, suggesting increased platelet activation and thrombo-inflammatory activity. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was also higher among crisis patients compared with steady-state patients and controls, reflecting increased systemic inflammatory burden.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Leucocyte and platelet abnormalities are important features of SCD and may serve as indicators of inflammatory activation and thrombo-inflammatory status. Routine assessment of leucocyte and platelet-derived indices may improve monitoring and management of SCD patients, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to determine their predictive value for disease severity and vaso-occlusive complications.