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Sickle cell disease and age at menarche in Jamaican girls: observations from a cohort study

G R Serjeant1, A Singhal, I R Hambleton

  • 1Medical Research Council Laboratories (Jamaica), University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. grserjeant@cwjamaica.com

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|October 23, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Age at menarche is delayed in sickle cell disease (SCD). In sickle cell haemoglobin C (SC) disease, menarche is delayed by 0.5 years, and in sickle cell (SS) disease, it is delayed by 2.4 years. Weight is the primary factor influencing menarche timing.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Reproductive Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) encompasses genetic blood disorders affecting red blood cells.
  • Understanding reproductive health milestones like menarche is crucial for managing SCD.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential delays in puberty and menarche in individuals with SCD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the age at menarche in individuals with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease and sickle cell haemoglobin C (SC) disease compared to controls.
  • To identify factors influencing the age of menarche in these populations.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study followed individuals from birth to adulthood (18-26.5 years).
  • Participants included 99 with SS disease, 69 with SC disease, and 100 with normal (AA) hemoglobin genotype.
  • Regular assessments included height, weight, pubertal stage, and hematological indices.

Main Results:

  • Mean age at menarche was 13.0 years in controls, 13.5 years in SC disease, and 15.4 years in SS disease.
  • Greater body weight was significantly associated with earlier menarche across all genotypes.
  • Fetal hemoglobin and red blood cell count influenced menarche timing in SS disease.

Conclusions:

  • Menarche is significantly delayed in individuals with SCD, by 0.5 years in SC disease and 2.4 years in SS disease.
  • Body weight is the principal determinant of age at menarche in this cohort.
  • Alpha thalassaemia did not appear to affect the timing of menarche.
Abstract

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