Pre-and post-dialysis hematological indices of patients with chronic kidney diseases attending dialysis center of a tertiary hospital in Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) is the most common modality for renal replacement treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa where near normal kidney function is achieved in most patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective: This case–control study sought to determine hematological changes and to compare the level of these changes in predialysis and post-dialysis stages in patients with CKD attending the dialysis unit of federal medical center, Yola, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 100 kidney disease patients were used as study subject while 50 individuals without kidney disease were used as control group. All hematological parameters comprising packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), platelets count, red cell indices (mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular Hb concentration), and differential leukocyte count were analyzed using standard methods as provided by five parts Beckman oulter hematology auto analyzer. Results: The highest proportion (29%) was observed at age group, 51–55 years and least (1%) in those 76–80 years. The mean age of male HD patients was 56.9 ± 2.7 years while that of female was at 42.5 ± 6.2 years and the male to female ratio in HD patients was 2.6:1. The patients at pre-dialysis have significantly reduced mean ± standard deviation of Hb concentration (6.3 ± 1.8 g/dl), red blood cell (RBC) count (2.1 ± 1.3 × 106 /ul), and platelet count (186 ± 28.2 × 103 /ul) compared to control group which had 12.2 ± 1.4 g/dl, 4.4 ± 0.2 × 106 /ul, and 350.5 ± 82.2 × 103 /ul, respectively; while in contrast had higher lymphocyte count (39.7 ± 3.0%) when compared with the control group (37.0 ± 4.2%). At post-dialysis stage, PCV (27.1 ± 5.0%), Hb concentration (7.8 ± 1.2 g/dl), RBC count (2.9 ± 0.5 × 106 /ul), and neutrophil (58.3 ± 3.8%); significantly increased compared with pre-dialysis stage with PCV (24.1 ± 2.0%), Hb concentration (6.3 ± 1.8 g/dl), RBC count (2.1 ± 1.3 × 106 /ul), and neutrophil (54.7 ± 3.2%). Conclusion: There is a remarkable improvement in hematological indices in CKD patients undergoing maintenance HD.