Assessment of coagulation markers, serum zinc and copper in children with beta-thalassemia major in Egypt

Abstract

Background Thalassemia is one of the commonest single gene disorders usually associated with many complications. Coagulation changes as well as trace elements levels alterations have been described in children with β thalassemia. Activation of coagulation can be assessed by measuring thrombin–antithrombin (TAT) complex, plasmin–antiplasmin (PAP) complex and β-thromboglobulin (β-TG). Methods A total of 200 children and adolescents were enrolled in the study; 100 were from the Al-Azhar University hospital’s pediatric hematology clinic diagnosed as thalassemia major, while the other 100 were apparently healthy volunteers who acted as the control group. Complete blood count, liver function test, kidney function tests, TAT complex, PAP complex, β-TG as indicators of coagulation changes, serum zinc and copper were performed on all participants. Results Significantly higher levels of TAT complex, PAP complex and β-TG in thalassemia children than the controls. Decreased serum zinc and increased serum copper levels in thalassemia children compared to the controls. A negative correlation was observed between the serum level of TAT and hemoglobin level, besides the negative correlation of TAT complex and β-TG with the serum zinc. Conclusion Thalassemia major was associated with increased serum level of coagulation activation markers, increased serum copper while decreased serum zinc.

The relationship between zinc and epilepsy

“…The partial nding that inhibitors of calcium ions, nitric oxide, and other key messengers of the vascular response concurrently inhibit zinc aggregation in tissues could be one piece of evidence for zinc's involvement in blood coagulation [39][40] . In addition, there are already researchers who have used serum zinc as one of the coagulation markers with positive results [41] . Perhaps, in some ways, zinc could reduce brain damage after epilepsy.…”