Red blood cell disorders in recently arrived African immigrants to Gran Canaria, Spain

In the last decade immigration to Europe has increased, with Africa being the source of a large number of immigrants. In addition to infections, this group has other less known health problems, such as erythrocyte abnormalities.

The objectives of this study were: the systematic evaluation of red cell abnormalities in 200 newly arrived asymptomatic African immigrants on the Canaries; the systematic evaluation of haemoglobinopathies and their characterization in this population; and the relationship of red blood cell disorders and parasitic infections.

Of the studied immigrants 53 (26.5%) had red cell disorders according to their CBC parameters (Hb and/or MCV). In 48 people (24.0%) one or more etiologic diagnoses were made. Specifically, in order of frequency, a total of 26 structural haemoglobinopathies, 14 α-thalassemias, 2 β-thalassemias and 14 iron deficiencies were diagnosed. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of anemia, microcytosis, structural haemoglobinopathies or α thalassemia and sub-Saharan origin. However, no statistically significant association between the abovementioned parameters and eosinophilia or helminthic infection was observed.

These results suggest that, even in the presence of normal Hb and MCV values, including haemoglobinopathies in the initial screening of newly arrived sub-Saharan immigrants would be very useful.