Plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 is not associated with the number of clinically overt vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease.

Objective: To determine if the number of vaso-occlusive events in SCD relates to plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 (FUT7), which catalyses the synthesis of selectin ligands.

Design: A prospective, analytical study.

Setting: Haematology and Chemical Pathology Departments of tertiary healthcare centres.

Participants: Steady state HbSS individuals aged 13-45 years, 20 had 3 or more vaso-occlusive crises that required hospital admission in the previous year (with or without complications of SCD); 17 other HbSS persons had 0-1 vaso-occlusive crisis that required hospital admission in the previous year and no disease complications.

Intervention: Steady-state plasma concentrations of FUT7 measured by ELISA were compared between SCD patients who had one vaso-occlusive crisis requiring hospital treatment in the previous year but no disease complications and those who had >3 crises with or without complications.

Main outcome measures: Plasma level of FUT7and the number of vaso-occlusive events in each HbSS patient.

Results: Mean + standard deviation plasma concentration of FUT7 was 8.6 + 2.7 ng/ml in patients with >3 vasoocclusive crises in the previous year and 7.3 + 1.7 ng/ml in those with 0-1 crisis and no complications; independent sample t-test, p > 0.05, not significantly different.

Conclusion: Plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase7 is not associated with the number of vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease.

Funding: None declared.