In a previous retrospective study, it was observed that the greater the amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the blood, the lesser the number of complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) and the higher the steady state haemoglobin level. SCD causes ischaemia-reperfusion injury and inflammation; which can be ameliorated by a metabolite of DHA that down-regulates expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The objectives of this prospective pilot study were to evaluate the effects of DHA and EPA supplements in SCD, and test the hypothesis that these effects are mediated partly by reducing inflammation. Oral DHA and EPA supplements were given to 16 SCD patients for 6 months. We then compared pre- and post-supplementation values of number of crisis, steady state Hb, plasma unconjugated bilirubin and three indices of inflammation: plasma interleukin-6, blood neutrophil and platelet counts. There was a significant reduction in the plasma level of unconjugated bilirubin, and the number of sickle cell crisis; but not in the markers of inflammation. The pilot data suggest that DHA and EPA supplements reduce the number of crisis and steady state haemolysis in SCD; but provide no evidence that these effects are mediated by reducing inflammation.

BackgroundHuman T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus (HTLV)-1 is a retrovirus transmitted vertically from mother to child parenterally and sexually by infected lymphocytes.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies and associated risk factors for HTLV-1 infection among pregnant women in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, southeast Nigeria.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was carried out from July to October 2010. Two hundred pregnant women were recruited consecutively from the antenatal clinic. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each of the participants into a plain sterile bottle and allowed to clot. The serum obtained was stored at −20°C until required for analysis. The serum samples were then analyzed for antibodies to HTLV-1 using a one-step incubation double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Participants’ demographic characteristics and degree of exposure to the risk factors associated with HTLV-1 infection were captured using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of results was done using SPSS version 17.ResultsThe average age of the pregnant women was 28.94 years (standard deviation 4.17). The age-group with the highest representation was those between the ages of 26 and 30 years. Thirty-six percent of the population was above 30 years old. The result of the tests showed that only one respondent, a 31-year-old pregnant woman tested positive for HTLV-1 antibodies. Therefore, the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital was 0.5%, with a 95% confidence interval of 0%–2.8%. Some of the sociodemographic risk factors of HTLV-1 infection found to be applicable to the 31-year-old woman who tested positive included positive history of previous sexually transmitted diseases, high parity, low socioeconomic status, female sex, and age above 30 years. The pregnant women that participated in this study were exposed to risk factors and behaviors associated with HTLV-1 infection. Some of the pregnant women (17.5%) had contracted sexually transmitted diseases, and 80.5% did not use condoms during coitus.ConclusionThe seroprevalence obtained in this study was low, though it is 100% for anyone infected. More prospective and multicenter studies are required to determine the infectivity of HTLV-1 among pregnant women in Nigeria.

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a relatively common haematological malignancy affecting older adults, accounting for about 20% of haematological malignancies in Nigeria. Diagnosis of this disease depends on the demonstration of clonal lymphocytosis > 5 × 109/L with a characteristic immunophenotypic pattern amidst other clinical and laboratory features. Objectives To determine the predominant clinical and laboratory features of CLL at presentation and their relationship with patient survival. This study also aims at examining the relationship between treatment protocol and outcome. Methods This is a retrospective study with 8 years data (2010–2018) collected from four different centers. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results There were a total of 97 cases, with a male: female ratio of 1.1:1. The median age at presentation was 59 years. Approximately 55% of the patients presented at Binet stage C, with splenomegaly in 93.2% and 78% were anaemic. The mean white cell count was 137.9 ± 14.7 × 109/L, with a median absolute lymphocyte count of 86 × 109/L. The commonest treatment regimen was chlorambucil and prednisolone and males had a superior response. The number of chemotherapy cycles, serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase correlated positively with duration of survival. Mortality rate over the five year period was 14.3%. Conclusion CLL was found to present in younger patients when compared to previous studies with a median age of 57 years at diagnosis. Our study showed a slight female preponderance and better response to therapy in males. Majority of the patients presented in Binet stage C and were treated with chlorambucil-based drug combinations compared to more current treatment with Fludarabine-based combinations. A high serum alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase was found to positively correlate with survival amongst this patient population

Background: Haematological cancers are clonal diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs, with the distribution pattern not known in our locality. This study aimed to describe the distribution pattern and prevalence of haematological cancers among adults in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was an 8-year retrospective study in which the hospital records/case notes of adult patients diagnosed and managed for haematological cancers from May 2012 to April 2020 were reviewed. Data obtained were analysed with the SPSS software, version 20. Results: One hundred and thirty-five cases of haematological cancers were included in the study, with 72 (53.4%) males and 63 (46.6%) females and male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1. The age range was 18–82 years, with a mean age of 49 ± 17 years. Lymphoid malignancies predominate more than myeloid (101 [74.8%] vs. 34 [25.2%]). The leukaemias were more predominant than the lymphomas and myeloma accounting for 48.2%, 36.3% and 7.4%, respectively. Chronic leukaemias were more common than the acute leukaemias with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) being the most common accounting for 24.4% of haematological cancers. In general, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was the most common haematologic cancer accounting for 35 (25.9%), followed by CLL 33 (24.4%), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) 17 (12.6%), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) 14 (10.4%) and multiple myeloma (MM) 10 (7.4%). Others include acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) 9 (6.7%) and acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) 6 (4.4%). Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and polycythaemia vera (PV), each contributed 3% while myelofibrosis (MF) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET) contributed 1.5% and 0.7%, respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that haematological cancers are not uncommon in our locality with NHL being the most common, followed by CLL, CML, HL, MM, ALL, AML, MDS, PV. MF and ET in that order. The burden of haematological cancers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria is therefore significant and should be prioritised in health-care policy formulation and management.

BackgroundHuman T-cell lymphotrophic/leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus implicated in transfusion-transmitted infection.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 antibodies among blood donors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Eastern Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out on consented participants over 4 months. A total of 300 blood donors were recruited consecutively from the blood bank. The serum of the collected 5 mL of blood obtained from each participant was stored at −20°C until required for analysis. The serum samples were then analyzed for antibodies to HTLV-1 using a one-step incubation double-antigen sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Participants’ demographic characteristics and degree of exposure to the risk factors associated with HTLV-1 infection were captured using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of results was done using SPSS version 17.ResultsOf the 300 blood donors, 288 (96%) were male, while 12 (4%) were female. The average age of the blood donors was 26.85±8.52 years. The age group with the highest representation among the blood donors were those aged between 21 and 25 years. Only 22.3% of the blood donors were above 30 years. None of the 300 screened blood donors tested positive to HTLV-1 antibodies. Hence, the seroprevalence of HTLV-1 infection among blood donors was 0%. Of the blood donors, 5% had history of previous sexually transmitted disease, while 34.7% used condoms during sexual intercourse.ConclusionThe seroprevalence obtained in this study cannot statistically support the justification of routine screening of blood donors for HTLV-1 infection. More prospective and multicentered studies are required to determine the infectivity of HTLV-1 in blood donors in Nigeria.