• Akodu Samuel Olufemi, Adekanmbi Abiodun Folashade, and Ogunlesi Tinuade Adetutu.
• Department of Paediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun, Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2021 Jun 1; 21 (2): 753-758.

BackgroundSickle cell disease is the commonest genetic disorder of haemoglobin due to inheritance of mutant haemoglobin genes from both parents. The disorder is characterized by chronic haemolysis which results in increased availability of iron from red blood cell destructions.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of iron overload among non-chronically blood transfused preschool children with sickle cell anaemia.MethodsSerum ferritin was assayed and transferrin saturation derived in 97 steady state sickle cell anaemia children. Elevated iron stores were defined as serum ferritin level >300ng/ml, and transferrin saturation >45%.ResultsSerum ferritin level was greater than 300 mg/ml in 14 (14.4%) subjects and transferrin saturation >45% in six (6.2%) subjects with sickle cell anaemia. The prevalence of iron overload was 20.6%. The prevalence of iron overload was higher among subjects in older age group, female, with history of blood transfusion, and with single blood transfusion session.ConclusionIron overload is prevalent in older children; the number of blood transfusion sessions notwithstanding. Regular assessment of serum ferritin is recommended.© 2021 Olufemi AS et al.

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