Evaluation of iron status amongst multiply transfused chronic kidney disease patients at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH) Ikeja/ Gbagada General Hospital.

Anaemia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 13g/dl in adult males and non-menstruating women and less than 12g/dl in menstruating women. Most end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in our facility present with severe anaemia requiring multiple blood transfusions. In the course of treatment, especially when on dialysis, these patients are also placed on iron therapy and erythropoietin. Iron studies are not conducted routinely in Nigeria mainly due to high cost of the tests. It is hypothesized that these patients may be iron overloaded and may require chelation therapy. There is paucity of literature on iron status evaluation amongst chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in Nigeria. This research determined the iron profile of this group of patients in our facility and the findings may provide recommendations on their management.