Distinct Haematological Profiles in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparative Study from Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic systemic autoimmune conditions that can impact peripheral blood cells through immune dysregulation, inflammation, organ involvement and treatments. There is still a lack of comparative haematological information on populations of sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which included 120 patients 40 apparently healthy controls, 40 patients with RA and 40 patients with SLE. Haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell (WBC) count and platelet count were determined. Independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for between-group comparisons. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean haemoglobin concentration was lower in SLE (9.71 ± 0.48 g/dL) and RA (9.98 ± 0.22 g/dL) than in controls (13.63 ± 0.26 g/dL), while PCV was also reduced in SLE (30.00 ± 1.69%) and RA (30.85 ± 1.23%) compared with controls (41.65 ± 1.14%). Mean WBC count was highest in RA (9.78 ± 0.30 ×109/L), followed by SLE (7.11 ± 0.51 ×109/L) and controls (6.08 ± 0.15 ×109/L). Platelet count showed the greatest divergence, being lowest in SLE (98.35 ± 6.12 ×109/L), highest in RA (265.25 ± 7.86 ×109/L), and intermediate in controls (223.25 ± 5.68 ×10⁹/L). Overall group differences were significant for haemoglobin (F = 839.200), PCV (F = 448.984), WBC (F = 585.767) and platelet count (F = 3439.374), all p < 0.001. Conclusion: Both SLE and RA had a significant anaemic pattern while the leukocytes and platelets showed significant differences. This research provides further evidence for the need to use routine haematological monitoring in the clinical assessment of systemic autoimmune disease and the importance of recognising that abnormal counts should be used in conjunction with the activity of disease, treatment history and other possible causes.