Abstract

Sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) are increasing. The prevalence of syphilis is increasing especially as Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing. There is paucity of published researches on haematological changes associated to syphilis in this part of the World. The population of the University where this study was done is dominated with highly sexually active persons. The study was done to determine haematological changes associated to syphilis in the subjects in Umudike. The study was done in a Secondary Health Institution. The study started January 2015 to December 2016. A total of seventy subjects (37 females, 33 males) were recruited for the study. Twenty (20) subjects (12 females, 8 males) were syphilis patients aged 20- 38 years and fifty (50) subjects (25 females, 25 males) were the apparently healthy individuals aged matched with the patients. About 2ml of venous blood sample was collected from each participant into EDTA anticoagulated container following aseptic techniques. The plasma was used for the diagnosis. A rapid diagnostic test kits were used for the diagnosis of syphilis from each sample. Haematological investigation was done using Mindray BC-5300. The results were presented in tables as mean and standard deviation and student t-test used for analysis and the level of significance was set at P<0.05. The results showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in the WBC, neutrophil, RBC, Haemoglobin, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC of the syphilis subjects (4.5±0.6X10⁹/L, 50.0±8.6%, 4.7±0.3 X10¹²/L, 14.0±0.5g/dl, 42.0±3.2%, 89.9±10.6fl, 29.9±5.6pg, 333.3±14.2g/l) compared to the control (5.6±0.8X10⁹/L, 68.2±10.4%, 5.1±0.7X10¹²/L, 15.4±0.8g/dl, 46.2±4.1%, 90.1±12.1fl, 31.0±3.7pg, 337.0±20.6g/l), significant increase (P<0.05) in the lymphocyte, monocyte of the syphilis subjects (47.0±5.2%, 2.0±0.1%) compared to the control (30.6±7.2%, 1.0±0.1%) and no significant difference in basophil and MCV of the syphilis subjects (0.1±0.1%, 89.9±10.6pg) compared to the control(0.1±0.1%, 90.1±12.1g/l).From the study, it can be shown that syphilis disrupts haematopoiesis. The infection altered the haematological parameters studied. The bone marrow activity might be reduced as seen in all the cell line. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is expedient to avert the danger that might be caused to the haematological parameters which will in turn affect both reproductive ability and vitality of life generally.

Keywords: Haematological changes; Syphilis; Umudike