Normal haematological values in adult Zambians
Ezeilo, G.C.
East African Medical Journal 49(2): 94-100
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 5047280 Document Number: 51256
Venous blood was taken from 239 normal adult Zambian Africans, including well fed students living in institutions, blood donors from the general public and 16 Europeans resident in Zambia for 6 months to 3 years. The highest white blood cell count (WBC) in Africans was 8700/mm3; the least was 1300. Mean total WBC for African students was 5900/mm3 (range 3440 to 8420). Their neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio of 36:55 was essentially the same as for the general public. Mean total WBC for Europeans was 8600/mm3 (range 4560 to 12 640). There was no difference between the mean Hb concentrations for students (15.4 g/100 ml) and for Europeans (16.1 g/100 ml); the general public had significantly lower Hb values than students. Female students had mean Hb value of 13.2 g/100 ml (range 11.0 to 15.4) with packed cell value of 40% (range 35.6 to 44.4). Probable mechanisms for the neutropenia and anaemia in Africans are discussed and poor diet was implicated as one of the most probable causes.