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. 2023 Jul 26:11:20503121231187747.
doi: 10.1177/20503121231187747. eCollection 2023.

Polycythemia vera disease profile in an African population-experience from a tertiary facility in Ghana

Solomon Gyabaah  1 , Eunice Agyemang Ahmed  1 , Adwoa Agyemang Adu-Gyamfi  1 , Frederick Nkrumah Gyabaah  2 , Afia Serwaa Bonsu  1 , Ameyaw Prince Addo  3 , Ohene Kwaku Opare Sem  1   4
Affiliations

Polycythemia vera disease profile in an African population-experience from a tertiary facility in Ghana

Solomon Gyabaah et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: The study describes the clinical and laboratory profile of the patients with polycythemia vera at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods and design: This was a retrospective hospital-based cohort study conducted from September 2020 to August 2022. Hematology clinic entry book was used to identify the patient's unique hospital code. Using these unique codes, retrospective data were collected using an Excel spreadsheet from the Hospital Lightwave health information management system (LHIMS) database.

Results: A total of 20 participants were recruited over the period of 2 years. The overall mean age was 51.53 ± 16.39 years. The hematological profile of the male participants revealed a mean hemoglobin of 18.25 ± 1.373 g/dl, mean hematocrit of 52 ± 3.47%, and a mean platelet of 345.5 ± 180.82. Comparatively, the mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet for the female participants were higher with figures of 19.26 ± 1.43 g/dl, 53 ± 3.61%, and 816 ± 935.32, respectively. Headache, tiredness, numbness, splenomegaly, and abnormal labs were the most common reasons why participants sought medical attention. Majority (60%) of the study participants had Janus Kinase 2 mutation. New-onset hypertension was identified in 45% of the study participants during follow-up. Thromboembolism was seen in 10% of the study population.

Conclusion: Polycythemia vera is an uncommon disease in Ghana mostly found in older males above 50 years. It is important to recognize it early to initiate therapy aimed at preventing common complications such as hypertension and thromboembolism. Polycythemia vera should be considered a differential diagnosis for patients with secondary hypertension.

Keywords: African population; Ghana; Polycythemia vera; profile.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Shows the presenting complaints of patients with polycythemia vera.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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