Screening of Coexistence Between Sickle Cell Anaemia and G6PD Deficiency

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is not frequent in Egypt except in the Oases where the carrier rate varies from 9 to 22%. It is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin molecules that cause red blood cells to take on a crescent or sickle shape. This haemoglobin called haemoglobin S, which causes red blood cells to become stiff and sticky, leading to various health complications as recurrent pain, fatigue, anaemia, and increased infection susceptibility.prevalence of G6PD deficiency is 4.3% with a male:female ratio of 3.2:1. Enzyme activity was significantly higher in males than females. It is located on X chromosome which leads to a lower level of reduced glutathione, an antioxidant, in red blood cells (RBCs). Most of the time, those who are affected have no symptoms. However, they should avoid specific triggers that may promote oxidative stress such as fava beans, that may fragilize RBCs and cause hemolysis. G6PD deficiency may have a subtle effect on the severity of hemolysis and also worsen the degree of anaemia in SCD when the two disorders coexist. Therefore, selective decision should be taken in patients in whom the two conditions coexist in the choice of drug and in the treatment of infections. The prevalence of the G-6-PD deficiency is high in SCD patients, but does not differ from that observed among non-SCD subjects .However, the G-6-PD deficiency appears to worsen the clinical features of SCD, there were more hospitalizations, major vaso-occlusive crises among G-6-PD deficient sickle cell patients.

• Early diagnosis to decrease incidanc of complications [Time frame: One year]