Folate Deficiency: A Major Cause of Anaemia in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia among Patients in Makudi, Nigeria DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajhs.v37i2.5

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Folate supplementation is often abhorred in malignancy, following fear of worsening disease as a result of folate therapy which is believed to increase the proliferation of malignant cells. However, few studies have re-evaluated the stance on the exclusion of folate in the management of some malignancies. Therefore, this study evaluated the concentration of folate in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia(CLL) patients to improve management outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among CLL patients seeking care in Benue State University Teaching Hospital. Thirty-six CLL patients and 36 healthy age and sex-matched controls were recruited for the study. Full blood count, peripheral blood film, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum folate levels were determined. Folate deficiency was defined as a concentration of <3.0ng/ml and a haemoglobin concentration of <11g/dl was described as anaemia. Data obtained from the study were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.

RESULTS: Folate deficiency was more common in the CLL group (27.8%) compared to controls (2.8%), P <0.05. There was a lower mean haemoglobin, platelet count and neutrophil count in the folate-deficient CLL patients compared to the non-deficient patients (p < 0.05). The mean corpuscular volume was not significantly different; however, a high red cell distribution width was noted in the CLL group which was more pronounced in the folate-deficient CLL subgroup.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There was a high prevalence of folate deficiency among patients with CLL in Makurdi, Benue state. This deficiency was more pronounced among CLL patients with anaemia and high-risk disease. Anaemia in CLL patients should be fully investigated and the possibility of micronutrient supplementation considered especially in patients with high-risk disease.