Complete Blood Count Profile in Steady State Sickle Cell Disease Patient: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Genetics
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder characterized by vaso-occlusive and hemolytic crises.
• The steady state refers to the period between these crises.
• Understanding the complete blood count (CBC) in SCD patients during the steady state is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize findings from studies on CBC profiles in steady-state SCD patients over the past two decades.
• To highlight the need for prospective research to define specific hematological reference values for SCD patients.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of current evidence on steady-state SCD hematology.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2025.
• Analyzed data from 21 descriptive cross-sectional studies using a random effects model in R, assessing risk of bias with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist.

Main Results:

• Mean red blood cell count was 3.42 T/L, mean hemoglobin was 8.83 g/dL, mean leukocyte count was 10.87 G/L, and mean platelet count was 332.07 G/L.
• Significant variation was observed in these parameters, with ranges extending beyond typical reference values.
• Risk of bias was generally low to moderate across included studies.

Conclusions:

• Hematological parameters in steady-state SCD patients consistently differ from established general reference values.
• Prospective studies are essential to accurately characterize these profiles and establish disease-specific reference ranges.
• This research emphasizes the need for tailored hematological monitoring in sickle cell disease management.