Evaluating Some Clinical And Laboratory Parameters for the Identification of Other Health Related Problems In Cervical Cancer Patients In Maiduguri-City, Nigeria

The cervical cancer patients may face several other health related conditions that may complicate their disease conditions or affect the outcome of management modalities. The objectives were to assess values in laboratory parameters during care so as to identify other related emerging problems that have serious clinical implications, and to assess disease specific risk factors. A total of 66 cervical cancer patients were assessed between year 2010 and 2015 through cross sectional observation study. Demographic information were retrieved from the case note while laboratory parameters like electrolyte levels, albumin, total protein, uric acid, creatinine, urea levels, white blood cell and packed cell volume were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 51.3 ± 13.2 years. Cervical cancer peaked at sixth decades and family histories were positive in 1.5% cases while 90.9% were married. The mean serum ion are Na+ (136 ± 5.8 mEq/L), K+ (3.7 ± 0.94 mEq/L), Cl- (98.8 ± 7.7 mEq/L), and HCO3- (19.7 ± 2.1 mEq/L). The anion gap ranges from 1.2-49.4 mEq/L. The mean creatinine (237.8µmol/L), urea (7.7 mmol/L) and uric acid (631.7 µmol/L) were higher than normal range. The packed cell volumes during treatment of 85.4% patients were below normal but significantly improved (P< 0.05) from baseline. Sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate levels were below normal in 22(39.3%), 14(25.0%), 20(35.1%) and 44(77.2%) respectively. The anion gaps were high in 35 (62.5%) patients. The kidney markers like creatinine and urea were elevated in 24(51.1%) and 20(36.4%) cases respectively. Serum albumin levels were low in 19(59.4%) patients. Cervical cancer patients are prone to electrolyte abnormalities, anaemia, low albumin, and kidney damage which may have serious implication or potential for poor prognostic outcome. These findings underscore the need to always monitor the chemotherapy and other treatment procedures adopted for cervical cancer patients.