Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency (VDD) is an established phenomenon in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Although a large portion of the population has been described as having low levels of vitamin D, individuals with SCD are at higher risk for VDD than their health counterparts. Despite these findings, its relationship with SCD is unclear and vitamin D levels are not routinely checked or treated in patients with SCD. Methods: Vitamin D levels (25-OHD) were measured in eighty SCD patients who were in steady state and sixty age and sex matched healthy controls using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparison between two SCD patients groups one with VDD and other group with normal 25-OHD level was done focusing on medical history including vaos-occlusive crisis and transfusion history Hematological profile and biomarker of hemolysis (hemoglobin [Hb]/hematocrit, reticulocyte percentage and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels) were done. Results: Assessment of 25-OHD levels revealed that 60% of patient group had VDD compared to 26.7% in control group with significance difference between the two groups who had VDD that mean serum level of 25- OHD was 9.9 ±2.1 ng/mL and 11 ± 1.8 ng/mL, respectively. There was significant negative correlation between serum 25-OHD level and age, frequency of VOC, reticulocyte count, LDH and AST (hemolysis biomarkers) while there is positive correlations with hemoglobin, hematocrite and age of first blood transfusion. Significant differences were found between patients with VDD and patients with normal 25-OHD in frequency of hospital admission, recurrent infections, frequency of blood transfusion

Issued also as CD