Bazuaye G N, Halim N K D, Omoti C E.
Response of sickle cell anaemia patients to therapeutic trial of Amples A&B.
Gomal J Med Sci Jan ;8(1):74-8.

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is common in the Niger delta region of Nigeria. This study was conducted to indirectly access the significance of cobalamin deficiency in sickle cell anaemia using therapeutic trial of Amples A&B containing cobalamin. Material & Methods: This study was conducted on sickle cell anaemia patients from University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Sickle Cell Centre, Benin, Nigeria. Sixty patients of >20 years age, with history of >2 admissions and blood transfusions, were taken as test subjects. While 60 stable, age and sex matched patients were taken as controls. Clinico-haematologic and demographic features of these patients were noted. Test patients were given intramuscular injections of Amples A&B, containing cyanocobalamin 2500?g, folic acid 0.9?g, niacinamide 12mg and vitamin C 150mg. Blood counts were carried out before therapy, and at 14 days. Results: The haemoglobin of patients and controls pre-therapy was 6.28g/dl+0.38 & 6.82+0.40g/dl and at 14 days of therapy 7.7+0.53g/dl and 6.8+0.42g/dl respectively. The mean corpuscular volume was 83.8+20.7fl and 83.2+21.0 fl pre-therapy and at 14 days 82.1+15.8fl and 84.1+70.6fl respectively. The mean reticulocyte count pre-therapy was 2.2+0.02% & 2.2+0.03% for test and controls and at 14 days it increased to 2.8+0.07% and 2.3+0.05% respectively. The mean white cell count pre-therapy was 11.14+5.31x103/?l & 10.48+5.14x103/?l for test and controls. At 14 days it showed a decrease to 8.75+3.49x103/?l & 9.89+4.02x103/?l respectively. The mean platelet count pre-therapy was 480+195.21x103/?l & 500+210.45x103/?l for test and controls. At 14 days it decreased to 470+188.34x103/ul & 480+193.12x103/ ?l respectively. The p value for the haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, white cell count, reticulocyte count and platelet count of the test compared to controls did not show any statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Over 50% of patients during therapy on Amples A&B reported increase in appetite. Less than 1% of the test subjects complained of mild transient bone pains during therapy. Conclusion: This study revealed a statistically non-significant response in some laboratory parameters and clinical features in sickle cell anaemia patients on therapeutic trial of Amples A&B.

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