Oral glucose tolerance test in children with sickle cell anaemia
Adekile, A.D.; Olusi, S.O.; Oyebola, D.D.
East African Medical Journal 62(3): 213-217
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 4017922 Document Number: 257877
Oral glucose tolerance test was performed on 12 children with sickle cell anemia, aged between 10 and 15 yr and on 9 normal and healthy controls of comparable age and sex. The mean value .+-. SD of the fasting plasma glucose concentration among the patients (81 .+-. 9 mg/100 ml), was higher than the value of 72 .+-. 14 mg/100 ml among the controls, although the difference between the means was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mean plasma glucose concentration remained higher among the patients throughout the duration of the test, with the difference between the means becoming significant at 30, 90 and 120 min (P < 0.05). Also, the mean value of the total area under the curve among the patients (872 .+-. 144) was significantly higher than the value of 742 .+-. 143, among the controls (P < 05). These findings are contrary to the flattish curves of oral glucose tolerance test described among adult sickle cell anemia patients, which have been interpreted to indicate glucose malabsorption. Glucose malabsorption is not a serious consideration in children with sickle cell anemia, unlike their adult counterparts. However, the findings suggest a primary impairment of insulin secretion, a subject that requires further investigation.