Lower hair cortisol among patients with sickle cell disease may indicate decreased adrenal reserves.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness that presents with a wide range of phenotypic variation. Stress may be a contributing factor to differences that are found in this population.

Objectives

Our objective is to determine the relationship between hair cortisol content (HCC), a biomarker of stress, and other clinical measures in individuals with SCD.

Methods

We collected hair samples and other clinical measures from 73 subjects with SCD (mean age: 39 ± 12 years, 63% female).

Results

HCC was lower among individuals who had greater than 30% hemoglobin S, compared with those who had less than 30% hemoglobin S (W=272.5, P=0.01). Lower HCC was also associated with report of not being on a chronic transfusion program (β=48.34, SE=14.09, P=0.001)

SUBMITTER: Hollister BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8165714 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature