Oxidative stress and zine status in children with thalassemia major and its relation to growth retardation

Abstract EN

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess oxidative stress and zinc status and its to growth retardation in children with - thalassemia major.

Methodology: this study was carried out on 50 β-thalassemia major children recruited from the Hematology clinic.

Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, their ages ranged from 5 to 12 years with a mean of 8.5 ± 2.3, from both sexes and 50 healthy children as a control group, from December 2010 to December 2012 Patients were subjected to full history taking and thorough clinical examination, hei9ght for age, weight for age and BMI for age were taken as parameters for auxological assessment using the Egyptian growth charts and Tanner staging for assessment of pubertal development, in addition detection of hemoglobin concentration, serum ferritin, serum ALT and serum zinc were carried out.

Furthermore the evaluation of serum Malondialdehyde as a diagnostic marker of oxidative stress was done.

Data about Hb electrophoresis was obtained from patients records.

Results: there was a non significant statistical difference between β-thalassemia major children and control group as regards age, sex.

There was a significant decreased in height for age, weight for age and BMI for age, Tanner staging, hemoglobin concentration and serum zinc in β-thalassemia major patients compared to control group, and a significant increased in serum ferritin, serum ALT and serum Malondialdehyde in β-thalassemia major patients compared to control group.

There was a significant decrease in height for age, weight for age and BMI for age, Tanner staging and serum zinc in β-thalassemia major patients with normal stature and a significant increase in duration of illness, serum ferritin and serum Malondialdehyde in β-thalassemia major patients with short stature compared to β-thalassemia major patients with normal stature.

Conclusion: there was a significant positive correlation between serum MDA level and serum ferritin in β- thalassemia major patients and a significant negative correlation between serum zinc level and serum ferritin in β- thalassemia major patients.