Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder that requires the patients to take a lifelong regimen of hydroxyurea drugs. Kenya, being a third world country, many of these patients are not able to afford to sustain their supply of the drug hence are off it most of the time. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there were haematological differences between the sickle cell patients taking hydroxyurea and hydroxyurea naïve patients. After obtaining consent and assent, a 2ml blood sample was collected from each study participant. A full blood count was run on the SYSMEX XT – 2000i and data entered into an Excel sheet. The parameters of interest were the hemoglobin, white blood cell count, and platelet count. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information and clinical history information. Ninety two sickle cell anemia patients participated in this study. Of these 46 were on hydroxyurea while the other 46 were off hydroxyurea.  The mean Hb of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was10.4 and 9.0 respectively (P value = 0.01). The mean WBC of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was 11.0 and 14.7 respectively (P value =0.005). The mean Plt of those on hydroxyurea and those not on hydroxyurea was 384 and 485 respectively (P value= 0.01). A clinically significant difference between the Hb, WBC and platelet counts was noted between the 2 groups thus suggesting a positive impact of Hu on the haematological parameters of sickle cell patients. Studies such as this could help policy makers in devising strategies to make hydroxyurea more affordable to the Kenyan sickle cell population.

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Eunice Wandia Kanyiri

College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya