Cholesterol and triglyceride level in patients with sickle cell anaemia.

This study was conducted on a group of 45 sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) patients and 45 age- and sex-matched controls with normal haemoglobin (HbAA) to determine the effect of anaemia due to genetic red cell defects on the value of cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma. The cholesterol level was found to be lower in the sickle cell anaemia patients compared with normals, and the difference in the level of cholesterol in the two groups was found to be statistically significant. A positive correlation was found between the haemoglobin level and the level of cholesterol. Since increase in cholesterol level increases the incidence of arteriosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, cholestasis and xanthomatosis, the patients with sickle cell anaemia may be at an advantage in having a protection against these disorders.