Background:Alloantibodies of clinical importance can cause transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The frequencies of these antibodies have not been reported in our locality.Aims:To determine the frequency of occurrence of alloantibodies among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Settings and Design:This is a prospective study, which was carried out in the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Materials and Methods:Screening and identification of red blood cell alloantibodies was done on the sera of 500 pregnant women using the DiaMed, DiaCell, and DiaPanel reagents (Cressier, Switzerland). ABO and Rh blood groups were done using antisera bought from Biotec (Ipswich, UK).Results:Alloantibodies were identified in the serum of 17 of the 500 (3.4%) pregnant women. The specificity of the antibodies was as follows: anti-C 6 (1.2%), anti-E 3 (0.6%), anti-Jsb 3 (0.6%), and anti-K 5 (1.0%). No anti-D was identified despite 8.6% of the study population being Rhesus D (Rh D) negative. The distribution of the antibodies was found to be independent of the blood groups of the participants (χ2 = 4.050, P = 0.670). Blood group O constituted the highest percentage (48.0%).Conclusion:This study has identified the presence of non-Rh D antibodies to the proportion of 3.4%. Rh D antibody was absent in this population irrespective of the relatively high percentage of Rh D negative women. There is a need to determine the actual risk these antibodies may pose to the antenatal women and to include antibody screening and identification in routine antenatal care.

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Iron Deficiency Anaemia which is reduced red blood cells due to iron deficiency had been reported to be a major challenge among Chronic Kidney Disease patients. The cause of anaemia in these patients is multifactorial, ranging from the inability of the kidneys to excrete hepcidin to even the inability of the kidneys to produce erythropoietin. This study aimed at comparatively assessing IDA between CKD and APHS in Niger Delta. A total of 88 subjects were recruited, 55(62.50%) CKDP and 33(37.50%) Control subjects. Samples were collected and analysed for IDA Indicators  such as Serum Hepcidin Levels using commercial DRG Hepcidin-25 kit and other Haematological Indices using Automation (Sysmex KX-21N Automated Haematology Analyzer), Leishman Staining Technique and Supravital Staining Technique; Questionnaire was also used to obtain some data,  data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 21.The mean values for  Serum Hepcidin, Haemoglobin(HB), Packed Cell Volume(PCV), Red Blood Cell count(RBC), Mean Cell Volume(MCV), Mean Cell Haemoglobin(MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration(MCHC), Reticulocyte count(Retics) and Red Cell Distribution Width(RDW) were 52.00ng/ml, 10.00 g/dL, 31.00%, 3.74×102/L, 78.84fL, 26.58pg, 31.79g/dL, 0.64%, and 14.94% respectively in the CKD patients while that for the APHS were 16.00ng/ml, 14.00g/dL, 42.00%, 4.69×1012/L, 89.37fL, 29.59pg, 33.00g/dL, 1.09% and 13.20% respectively. Statistical T-Test of significance revealed that Serum Hepcidin level was elevated significantly in CKD patients (52.00ng/ml) when compared with APHS(16.00ng/ml) t86= 6.54, p<0.05, Haemoglobin value of 10.00g/dL in CKD patients was significantly lower than 14.00g/dL in APHS (t86 = -8.49, p<0.05), and the values of other haematological indices were lower except RDW that was elevated significantly among CKD patients when compared with the APHS (p<0.05) all at significance  level of 0.05. The elevated serum hepcidin and RDW level seen in this study  may be as a result of diminished renal clearance and inflammatory state of the kidney. The kidney”s inability to make enough erythropoietin may have lead to the low red blood cell count that consequently caused anaemia in subjects studied..The estimation of Serum Hepcidin level in CKD patients in addition to the other Haematological indices will improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in these patients.

Hepcidin is the major controller of systemic iron homeostasis and the role of the kidney in regulating hepcidin level is vital in the whole process of iron and hepcidin relationship. This study was aimed at evaluating serum Hepcidin level among Chronic Kidney Disease subjects accessing Healthcare in BMSH Port Harcourt Metropolis. The study was conducted in Port Harcourt at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital among 55 CKD subjects and 33 normal individuals making up the control group. Subjects were selected randomly and 5mls of blood was collected in plain bottle using venipuncture technique for laboratory assessment of hepcidin. Hepcidin was assayed using competitive ELISA method.  T-test was used to compare the mean difference oh hepcidin between both groups. Result showed that there was a significant difference in hepcidin level between CKD and control groups; 52.00±36.00ng/ml for CKD group and 16.00±13.00ng/ml for control group, p<0.05. This study has shown that CKD has a significant impact in hepcidin level blood and consequently on iron regulation.