Immune Status and Red Cell alloimmunization among SCD Patients in Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is the most popular genetic disease in the world. In Côte d’Ivoire, the SCD prevalence is 12%. As such, SCD is a public health problem. Few studies are really investigating the relative levels of Th1, Th2 and Th17 types in black Africans and in the occurring of alloimmunization. This works attempts to identify the cytokine pattern produced by these patients during the course of the disease as Th1 cytokines, Th2 cytokines and Th17 and the relationship with alloimmunization. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective study followed at the National blood Transfusion Center in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Cytokines were measured by using Bio Legend’s LEGEND plexTM Human Inflammation Panel assays. We used Grifols DG gel® system to perform the immune hematology tests. Results: We recruit 50 patients with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Of these, only 31 have benefited from the research of irregular agglutinins (62%), comprising 14males (45.16%) and 17 females (54.84 %). The overall alloimmunization prevalence of 16.12%. The prevalence of alloimmunization was significantly greater in males than in females (60%). According to alloimmunization, we note an increased levels of IL-10 in non alloimmunized patients with SCD, when compared with alloimmunized and the levels of IL-4 was higher in alloimmunized patients compared to non alloimmunized. Lower IFN-γ levels were detected in non alloimmunized and alloimmunized SCD patients. Concerning IL-17, there was a small increase in patients without alloantibodies compared to those with. However no significant differences were noted in the 2 groups. Conclusion: The impact of biomarkers in the occurrence of alloimmunization is a constant preoccupation of researchers. Due to lack of financial aspect, small number of patients was enrolled. Even, we cannot draw any definitive conclusion; however our study brings data regarding the functioning of the immune system in SCD giving valuable insight.