The heamatological manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis in Ugandan patients

Abstract

The heamatological manifestations were studied in 107 Ugandan Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, of whom 82 and 25 were retrospectively and prospectively respectively studied. A mild to moderate normocytic, normochromic anaemia with an either normocellular or hypercellular narrow was found. The serum iron levels were relatively low. The presence of anaemia was associated with Rheumatoid Factor (RF) positively. HSR was markedly elevated out of proportion to the mild to moderate anaemia. The total leucocyte and platelet counts were normal but there was a significant eosinophilia, monocytosis and neutropenia. The significance of these findings is discussed. The heamatological manifestation of RA in Uganda is compared and contrasted to that found in the Western World, Malaysia and Western Nigeria