Sickle Cell Anemia Therapeutic Approach Based on Drepanoalpha®: About 34 Cases
Benjamin Z. Gbolo
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Damien S. T. Tshibangu
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Lionel T. Asamboa
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gédéon N. Bongo
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Félicien M. Kasali
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Official University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Viviane B. Feza
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Official University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
K. N. Ngbolua
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pius T. Mpiana *
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O.Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical, biological, socio-economic and socio-demographic parameters on sickle cell patients before, during and after the administration of Drepanoalpha®, a nutraceutical used in the management of sickle cell disease in DR. Congo.
Methodology: The 34 selected cases were submitted to Drepanoalpha® for two months and the clinical (jaundice, pallor, physical asthenia, abdominal bloating, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, sensitivity to infections, bone pain, anorexia), biological (hemoglobin and hematocrit) and socio-economic (cost per crisis, number and duration of hospitalization, number of transfusions) parameters were evaluated before, during and after administration.
Results: The results reveal that the use of Drepanoalpha® could probably suppress the clinical expression of hyperhemolysis, as well as other sickle cell disease signs such as jaundice, pallor, splenomegaly and abdominal bloating and also decreased the physical asthenia and anorexia, preventing considered sickle cell disease patients from infections. Drepanoalpha® significantly increases the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of all subjects. These results also indicate that considered subjects, mainly the males children with none education level, showed neither intolerance nor adverse effects when taking Drepanoalpha®. Treatment with this Nutraceutical is 13.64 times cheaper than hospitalization.
Conclusion: This could probably indicates that, this nutraceutical can be considered as safe potential candidate in the treatment of sickle cell anemia.
Keywords: Drepanoalpha®, nutraceutical, sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin, hematocrit