Elevated levels of pro-coagulant microvesicles in children in-steady state sickle cell disease

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited genetic disorder characterized by various complications, including thrombosis. Increased levels of circulating microvesicles (MVs) and tissue factor (TF)- bearing MVs have been reported in SCD. Objectives: The present study compares the levels of circulating MVs and TF- bearing MVs in steady state SCD children with age- and gender- matched healthy controls using an indirect ELISA. Citrated whole blood was collected from 54 SCD patients homozygous for sickle haemoglobin (HbSS) (aged from 2 to 12 years-old) and 34 healthy controls. Results: SCD patients showed significantly higher levels of MVs in their plasma as compared to the controls (P = 0.0095). Although the TF activity on MVs was low in both groups, there was a significant difference between them P <0.05). A strong correlation between the level of MVs and TF-MVs in the patient group was also noted. Conclusion: This suggests their involvement in the hypercoagulable state in the study group of patients. Further studies are recommended to elucidate the functional activity of MVs and TF-MVs, as well as the size and origin of MVs in the plasma.