[Rheumatic diseases and hemoglobinopathies in Lomé (Togo)]

This prospective cross-sectional study was designed to determine the frequency and impact of hemoglobinopathies in rheumatology clinic patients in Lomé (Togo). Among the 405 study patients, 142 (35%) had an abnormal hemoglobin, 22% had hemoglobin S, and 16.8% had hemoglobin C. Sickle cell anemia and sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease (2% and 4.2% of patients respectively) were associated with vasoocclusive crises and necrosis of the femoral head. Presence of AS or AC (heterozygotic forms of hemoglobins S and C) was found in 15.8% and 12.1% of patients, respectively. These proportions were similar to those reported in the population at large. Presence of AS or AC had no detectable influence on degenerative spinal disease, osteoarthritis of the knee, tendinitis or inflammatory joint diseases. Our data suggest that presence of AS or AC has no adverse significance and should be disregarded when evaluating patients with musculoskeletal symptoms.