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Abstract

Background and Objective Fetal haemoglobin is the major genetic modulator of the haematologic and clinical features of sickle cell anaemia, an effect mediated by its exclusion from the sickle haemoglobin polymer. Fetal haemoglobin genes are genetically regulated and the level of fetal haemoglobin and its distribution among sickle erythrocytes is highly variable. This study was carried out to estimate the levels of fetal haemoglobin in sickle cell subjects attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. The percentage of fetal haemoglobin was measured in 30 subjects with diagnosis of sickle cell disease in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria as well as in 30 haemoglobin AA and 30 haemoglobin AS individuals who were enrolled as controls subjects. Materials and Methods Haemoglobin electrophoresis was done using the cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH 8.6 while fetal haemoglobin was estimated using modified Betke method. Results The result showed the mean fetal haemoglobin among the SS subjects 1.410.98 to be significantly higher than that of AA 0.960.71 and AS 1.170.780 subjects, respectively p 0.04. The result of this study has also shown a significant p 0.01 higher level of fetal haemoglobin in female sicklers 1.510.74 when compared to male counterparts 1.291.14. Conclusion The results also showed a higher level of fetal haemoglobin in higher age group when compared to lower age group. The study has shown that the Haemoglobin F level is lower than that found in other parts of the country and world.