Morphological classification of anaemia among first-time blood donors in Northwest Nigeria and the implication of empirical haematinics therapy

Abstract

Anaemic donors inNigeriaare often empirically treated with haematinics without investigations. We studied morphological pattern of anaemia among first-time donors inKano,Nigeriaand reviewed the clinical implications of empirical use of haematinics with respect to morphology. Haematological parameters of 182 first-time prospective blood donors with anaemia were determined and morphological classification of the anaemias were undertaken based on red cell indices. Out of 182 anaemic donors, 56.6% had microcytic hypochromic anaemia, 19.2% had macrocytic anaemia, 17.6% had dimorphic anaemia and 6.6% had normocytic normochromic anaemia. The heterogeneous pattern of morphological classes of anaemia was indicative of diverse aetiological factors, hence empirical therapy with haematinics may ineffective or hazardous in many cases of anaemia among first-time blood donors inNigeria. It is therefore necessary for blood banks inNigeriato have standard guidelines for investigating anaemic donors before embarking on therapy.