Effects of iron overload and treatment methods on serum levels of zinc (Zn)‎ and cupper (Cu)‎ in beta thalassemia major (BTM)‎ patients

Abstract EN

This study is aimed to measure the serum levels of Zn and Cu in BTM patients with respect to their iron overload, and methods of treatment.

A total of 81 BTM patients were enrolled in the study among them 12 patients were just diagnosed and received no treatment to serve as a second control group beside the first one which was composed of the healthy subjects.

Patients on scheduled blood transfusions and those on subcutaneous (Sc.) Desferrioxamine (DFO) infusions beside blood transfusion were compared firstly with the healthy controls and secondly with the newly diagnosed thalassemics.

A third type of comparisons was done among the study groups themselves.

The results showed that in comparing the patients on blood transfusion with the healthy controls, a highly significant increase in Cu serum levels (p‹0.01) were found.

Comparison of the patients on DFO infusions with the healthy controls showed a highly significant increase in serum Cu (p‹0.01), and a significant decreases in Zn serum levels (p‹0.05).

In comparing the spleenectomized patients with the healthy controls a highly significant decrease were found in Zn serum levels (p‹0.01), and a significant increase in Cu serum levels (p‹0.05), and so did the non spleenectomized patients..

In comparing the newly diagnosed thalassemic patients with the healthy controls, a highly significant increase was found in Cu serum levels (p‹0.01), no significant correlation was found between serum levels of ferritin and either Zn or Cu.

From this study it was concluded that treatment methods can significantly affect serum levels of both Zn and Cu.