Open AccessPrevalence of sickle cell trait in blood donors: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Letícia A. F. Machado,
Edney G. da C. Gomes,
Lívia Costa de Oliveira,
LUCAS RODRIGUES CASTILHO DE LIMA,
José Firmino Nogueira Neto
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
brazilian journal of health and biomedical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2674-8207
DOI - 10.12957/bjhbs.2019.53498
Subject(s) - sickle cell trait , observational study , asymptomatic , trait , medicine , hemoglobin electrophoresis , systematic review , hemoglobin , biology , medline , disease , computer science , programming language , biochemistry
The sickle cell trait is a genetic mutation characterizedby the presence of hemoglobin S (HbS) in heterozygosisin which patients are asymptomatic, which makesthem suitable for blood donation. Aim: Systematizing datarelated to the prevalence of the sickle cell trait among blooddonors. Materials and methods: A search of the literature wasconducted in May 2019 to seek articles published from 1990and which had available online abstracts, in four electronicdatabases. Studies were selected with the following characteristics:(1) original work; (2) observational; (3) developed withblood donors; and (4) showing prevalence of sickle cell trait.Two independent reviewers identified the articles for inclusionin this systematic review of the literature (SRL), extractedthe pre-determined data and carried out the evaluation of theworks’ methodological quality. Results: Eight studies publishedin the last 12 years in different countries were selected totake part in this SRL. With variable sample size, all presented across-sectional methodology. For the detection of the presenceof HbS, electrophoresis in alkaline pH was commonly used.The statistical analysis developed involved simple techniques,showing that the prevalence of blood donors with sickle celltrait ranged from 0.4% to 20.8%. The majority of studies wasconsidered of high methodological quality. Conclusion: Theprevalence of sickle cell trait among blood donors varies widely,although it may not be moderate, given that the screeningof HbS has important clinical significance for the proper useof this blood component.Keywords: Sickle cell trait; Blood donor; Blood transfusion.