Sickle cell disease and assessment of energy metabolism and serum cortisol in Lubumbashi

Abstract

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cells disorder which leads to oxidative stress and resulting in the disturbance of energy metabolism.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in serum glucose, triglycerides and cortisol concentrations in subjects with sickle cell disease in the city of Lubumbashi.

Methods: This is a 1-1 matched case-control study involving 64 subjects with sickle cell disease attending the sickle cell care center (C-fare) and 64 subjects without sickle cell disease taken as controls. The serum obtained after centrifugation of the blood, taken from each of them, was used for the determinations of glucose, triglycerides and cortisol. The average results obtained in sickle cell patients and non-sickle cell patients were statistically compared using the Student's t test. 

Results: the mean serum values ​​of glucose, triglycerides and cortisol observed in sickle cell patients are respectively 71.77 ± 10.03 mg/dl, 98.78 ± 57.34 mg/dl and 399.48 ± 194 .62 nmol/L. In control subjects, these values ​​are 76.98 ± 12.29 mg/dl, 60.09 ± 29.86 mg/dl and 421.35 ± 178.74 nmol/L, respectively. Mean blood glucose is significantly lower (p < 0.01) while triglyceridemia is significantly higher (p < 0.000001) in sickle cell patients than in controls, while there is no significant difference (> 0.05) concerning cortisolemia between the groups.

Conclusion: This study shows that during sickle cell disease, there is disruption of energy metabolism with a decrease in blood sugar and an increase in triglyceridemia.