Evaluation of the Relationship among Different Haemoglobin Genotypes, Calcium, and Membrane Potential in Patients with Malaria in FMC, Umuahia

Malaria is still a major contributor to the high rate of global infectious disease-related mortality and morbidity particularly in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between various Hemoglobin Genotypes, Calcium, and Membrane Potential in malaria patients. Retrospective analysis of the results of the distribution of Malaria parasitemia among suspected cases of malaria, various Haemoglobin genotypes, Calcium and Membrane Potential were conducted in Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State. Two hundred cases were examined by Giemsa staining method using thick film. Haemoglobin genotype determination was performed by Cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Obtained data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA. Results: One hundred and seventy (85.0%) were positive for Malaria parasite. The prevalence was 92(54.1%) and 78(46.0%) for females and males respectively and at p<0.05, the result obtained from the statistics is considered significant. There are high prevalence of parasitemia in AA, 80(40.0%), with genotype SS recording the least with 30(15%). The age group 27-35 years had the highest occurrence of parasitemia with (44.1%) while the least was obtained in the age range 45-53 years with (2.4%). It was observed that the density of Malaria parasitemia was highest in the age group 27-35 years meaning that parasite density decreases with increasing age and the Haemoglobin genotype AA had the highest Malaria density. Also, the serum Calcium and Membrane Potential were significantly reduced in Sickle cell disease (HbSS) when compared to the HbAA and HbAS individuals. This signifies a low energy level in Sickle cell patients that can result in oxidative stress. This may probably indicate that serum Calcium and Membrane Potential are significantly reduced in Sickle cell patients compared with other Haemoglobin genotypes with Malaria.