Fetal Hemoglobin Levels as Indicator of Frequency and Duration of Blood Donation

Ogbodo Sylvester Ogbonna,Eze Chukwuka Wencelaus,Chukwurah Ejike Felix,Eze Richard Ikechukwu,Udengwu Nonyerem Lilian

doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v9i06.mp03

Abstract

Hemoglobin F is normal hemoglobin seen in minute amount in adults. Increase in its level in adults is an indication of erythropoietic stress, which in most cases is linked to hemoglobinopathy. This study was undertaken to assess if physiological erythropoietic stress as seen in commercial blood donation, can increase it and thus be used as an indicator of frequency and duration of blood donation. The study involved 152 subjects including 88 commercial blood donors and 64 controls. Hemoglobin F was expressed as percentage concentration of the total hemoglobin. Results showed that hemoglobin F significantly increased in commercial blood donors when compared with the controls. There was also strong positive correlation between hemoglobin F level and age of the donors which was not the case with the controls. The results indicate that hemoglobin F level can be used as an indicator of the frequency and duration of blood donation. Though blood donation has some health benefits, the disadvantages of frequent donation outweigh these benefits and should be discouraged.

Highlights

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which is not abnormal hemoglobin, is the major hemoglobin in fetal blood
The results from this study showed that commercial blood donors have mean hemoglobin F level of 0.49 ± 0.04% of the total hemoglobin
The results from commercial blood donors at different age group were 0.39 ± 0.03% for 20 – 30years, 0.54 ± 0.06% for 31 – 40years and 0.66 ± 0.13% for 41 – 50years, while results from controls were 0.18 ± 0.02% for 20 – 30years, 0.16 ± 0.01% for 31 – 40years and 0.15 ± 0.02% for 41 – 50years, showing that HbF levels increased significantly in donors at all the age groups when compared with non-donors at the corresponding age groups

Summary

Introduction

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which is not abnormal hemoglobin, is the major hemoglobin in fetal blood. The persistence of HbF level to adult age is not generally associated with clinical symptoms and its presence in good percentage is a good modulating factor when present with hemoglobinopathies. Its high affinity for oxygen makes it possible for more oxygen in the system as percentage concentration of HbF increases, making it a stabilization factor in hemoglobinopathies, especially sickle cell disease (Akinsheye et al, 2011). This high affinity for oxygen coupled with greater ease to release carbon dioxide makes HbF an instrument for compensatory mechanism to overcome complications that would have arisen from anoxemia. A comparable amount of it in sickle cell anemia is confined to a few red cells (normal red cells) and

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