Author(s)

Lucie Charlotte Ollandzobo Ikobo^1,2*, Hardy Maryse Ibovi Gataud¹, Steve Vassili Missambou Mandilou², Olivia Firmine Galiba Atipo-Tsiba^1,3, Rolf Iwandza⁴, Jean Robert Mabiala Babela^1,2

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.
²Department of Infant Pediatrics, CHU of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo.
³Department of Clinical Haematology, CHU Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo.
⁴Antoinette-Sassou-Nguesso National Reference Centre for Sickle Cell Disease in Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disease in the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a protean condition with multiple complications including disturbed iron metabolism. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of iron metabolism abnormalities in children with homozygous sickle cell disease, to describe the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of children with these abnormalities and to identify associated factors. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted over 9 months in the mother-child consultation unit of the Brazzaville University Hospital, the National Reference Centre for Sickle Cell Disease and the paediatric department of the Blanche Gomes mother-child hospital. It concerned children aged between 3 months and 15 years followed up for homozygous sickle cell disease. The study was based on a haemogram, iron metabolism test, LDH, transaminases and CRP. Results: The overall prevalence of iron metabolism abnomalities was 40.7%. Of the 145 children included, 35.9% had iron overload and 4.8% iron deficiency. Iron overload was associated with infections, undernutrition, iron supplementation and number of blood transfusions. Iron deficiency was not significantly associated with any factor but recurrent infections were relatively more frequent. Conclusion: Abnormalities of iron metabolism in sickle cell patients are relatively frequent, which justifies monitoring during follow-up for early detection and better management.

Anomalies, Metabolism, Iron, Child, Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease, Brazzaville

Ollandzobo Ikobo, L.C., Ibovi Gataud, H.M., Missambou Mandilou, S.V., Galiba Atipo-Tsiba, O.F., Iwandza, R. and Ma-biala Babela, J.R. (2023) Iron Metabolism Abnormalities in Children with Homo-zygous Sickle Cell Disease in Brazzaville. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 13, 394-407. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojped.2023.133044