Newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Butembo and Beni: a pilot experience in a highland region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: sickle cell disease is an inherited autosomal recessive hemoglobin disorder resulting in acute and chronic systemic complications. Despite the high burden of sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, limited data on disease prevalence is available and systematic screening is not offered to newborns. This study aimed to provide neonatal prevalence and associated factors to the phenotypic manifestation of sickle cell disease in an eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Red blood cell alloimmunisation in sickle cell disease patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation and alloantibody specificity in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in comparison with those followed at the Centre Hospitalier Régional (CHR) de la Citadelle of Liège (Belgium).

Background: Data regarding RBC alloimmunisation (immune response of the organism to foreign erythrocyte antigens, antigens that lack on its own RBC) in SCD patients are scarce in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a multi-site-based cross-sectional study among 125 SCD patients at Kisangani and 136 at the CHR de la Citadelle of Liège.

Pairing parents and offspring's HemoTypeSC Test to validate results and confirm sickle cell pedigree: a case study in Kisangani, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: HemoTypeSC is one of the immunoassay methods currently used for the early diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in newborns. Earlier diagnosis remains the key strategy for early preventive care needs and parents' education about the child's future well-being throughout his life. Before considering these children as sick and aligning them for regular medical monitoring, it may be valuable to confirm the HemoTypeSC result with a secondary laboratory testing method.

Renal Abnormalities among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in a Poor Management Setting: A Survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background And Objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is now a well-established cause of renal damage. In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), SCD is common. However, sickle cell nephropathy remains unstudied in this region.

Does glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency worsen the clinical features of sickle cell disease? A multi-hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency(G-6-PD) on the clinical course of sickle cell disease(SCD) is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in patients with SCD and its effect on their clinical course.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 122 SCD patients and 211 healthy blood donors was conducted in Kisangani city.

Management of sickle cell disease: current practices and challenges in a northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the third most affected country worldwide by sickle cell disease (SCD). However, this disease is still orphaned in the country; large-scale control actions are rare, and little is known about its management.

Objective: To assess current practices in the management of SCD in Kisangani, DRC.

Comorbidity of sickle cell trait and albinism: a cross-sectional survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and albinism are both recessive hereditary diseases in human kind with a high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determinate the prevalence of sickle cell trait in people living with albinism (PLA).

Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in PLA attending the "Hôpital du Cinquantenaire de Kisangani".

Students' knowledge on sickle cell disease in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Education is needed as an action to reduce morbidity and mortality from sickle cell disease (SCD), an important but largely neglected risk to child survival in most African countries as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To assess the knowledge of Kisangani University students in DRC regarding SCD. In this non-experimental, cross-sectional study, a validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of 2 112 Kisangani University students in DRC and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among diabetic patients in Kisangani (North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo).

Introduction: The link between diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B and C Virus infections has not yet been studied in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country where diabetes mellitus is a growing disease and the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses infections is high. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of these viruses in diabetic patients.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in diabetic subjects attending Kisangani University Clinics and General Hospitals of Kisangani City as well as the Diabetics Association of Oriental Province.