Haematological study in sickle cell homozygous and heterozygous children in the age group 0-6 years.

Sickle cell anaemia is a common and widespread haemoglobinopathy with large clinical heterogeneity. The present study, was undertaken to determine seven different haematological parameters (Haemoglobin percent, RBC count, PCV, MCV MCH, MCHC, Reticulocyte count) on total 102 heterozygous (SA) and homozygous (SS) sickle cell children under six years of age. In addition, fetal haemoglobin (HbF) level was estimated in SS children and correlated with clinical status, gender and ethnic background. Mean HbF was 16.79%. Higher HbF level was associated with less severe clinical feature. HbF was not influenced by gender and ethnic background. In homozygous children mean values of MCV, MCH, MCHC were decreased while reticulocyte count was increased as compared to control (AA) children and (SA) children (P < 0.05) We conclude that, in sickle cell disease, HbF was a good prognostic indicator. Higher HbF level along with microcytic hyopochromic indices and lower MCHC was found to be a feature of the study population.