HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES IN RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC PATIENTS IN LOME (TOGO)

This prospective cross-sectional study was designed to determine the f requency and impact of hemoglobinopathies in rheumatology clinic patie nts in Lome (Togo). Among the 405 study patients, 142 (35%) had an abn ormal hemoglobin, 22% had hemoglobin S, and 16.8% had hemoglobin C. Si ckle cell anemia and sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease (2% and 4.2% of patients respectively) were associated with vasoocclusive crises and n ecrosis of the femoral head. Presence of AS or AC (heterozygotic forms of hemoglobins S and C) was found in 15.8% and 12.1% of patients, res pectively. These proportions were similar to those reported in the pop ulation at large. Presence of AS or AC had no detectable influence on degenerative spinal disease, osteoarthritis of the knee, tendinitis or inflammatory joint diseases. Our data suggest that presence of AS or AC has no adverse significance and should be disregarded when evaluati ng patients with musculoskeletal symptoms.