Studies on Serum Erythropoietin and Red Cell Indices of Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in Southeast, Nigeria

A total of 200 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 100 subjects each for Patients with UTI (50 subjects were Males, 50 were Females) and 100 subjects for apparently healthy subjects (Control) (50 subjects were Males, 50 were Females) drawn from the Health institution. About 6ml of venous blood was aseptically collected from the antecubital vein of each subject by standard technique. About 4.5ml was dispensed into plain tubes for Erythropoietin assay and the remaining was dispensed into an EDTA bottle for haematological parameters determination. All reagents and kits were commercially purchased from reputable company whose standard operating procedures were strictly followed. Human EPO (Erythropoietin) ELISA kit was purchased from Elabscience with catalog No: E-EL-H0066c.The erythropoietin was bought from Elabscience Biotechnology Co.Ltd, Wuhan. The haematological parameters were determined using Mindray BC-5300. The results were expressed as mean± standard deviation. The data were analysed with the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21 using t-test, ANOVA and the level of significance was set at P<0.05. The results showed decrease in RBC (3.75±1.40 X10 12 /L; 5.16±0.34 X10 12 /L, P=0.004), Haemoglobin (11.24±4.21g/dl, 15.48±1.03g/dl, P=0.004), PCV (33.73±12.62%, 46.45±3.08, P=0.004), increase in EPO (87.29±7.66 iu/l, 19.35±5.75 iu/l) and no significant difference in MCV (90.02±0.08fl, 90.00±0.05fl), MCH (30.00±0.03pg, 30.00±0.02pg) and MCHC (330.59±9.04g/l, 333.33±0.06g/l) of patients with UTI compared to control respectively. The results showed increase in EPO (64.23±9.19 iu/l, 17.10±6.86 iu/l, P=0.002 ) and no significant difference in RBC (4.94±0.99 X10 12 /L; 5.26±0.17 X10 12 /L, P=0.613), Haemoglobin (14.83±2.99g/dl, 15.78±0.51g/dl, P=0.611), PCV (44.50±8.96%, 47.33±1.53%, P=0.611), MCV (90.01±0.06fl, 90.04±0.03fl, P=0.393), MCH (30.00±0.02pg, 30.01±0.01pg, P=0.389) and MCHC (333.30±0.07g/l, 333.31±0.08g/l, P=0.901) of patients with UTI compared to control respectively. The results showed decrease in EPO (21.12±6.23 iu/l, 87.68±8.89 iu/l, P=0.003 ) and no significant difference in RBC (5.31±0.28 X10 12 /L; 4.69±1.20 X10 12 /L, P=0.242), Haemoglobin (15.94±0.83g/dl, 14.07±3.60g/dl, P=0.243), PCV (47.83±2.48%, 42.20±10.80%, P=0.242), MCV (90.03±o.04fl, 90.01±0.07fl, P=0.638), MCH (30.01±0.02pg, 30.00±0.03pg, P=0.635) and MCHC (333.31±0.05g/l, 333.31±0.09g/l, P=0.982) of patients with UTI compared to control respectively. The study maintained positive relationship of the red blood cell, haemoglobin and packed cell volume to erythropoietin. Erythropoietin level should be monitored in the patients to avoid anaemia that may be normocytic normochromic blood picture.