Zinc Levels of Plasma, Erythrocyte, Hair and Urine in Homozygote Beta-Thalassemia

Abstract

The zinc levels of plasma, erythrocytes, hair and urine were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique in 20 homozygous β-thalassemic and 20 control children. Plasma, erythrocyte and hair zinc levels in the diseased children were found to be much lower than those of controls. The difference was statistically highly significant. Along with other factors, zinc deficiency was wrought to have an important role in the retardation of growth and sexual development seen in the patients with homozygous β-thalassemia. The increased urinary zinc excretion suggests that the factor responsible for zinc deficiency might be the loss of the element through the kidneys.

Zinc Levels of Serum, Hair and Urine in Homozygous Beta-Thalassemic Subjects under Hypertransfusional Treatment

“…This treatment therefore results in a slow down or even in an interruption of the chain of events assumed by Prasad et al [4] and Dogru et al [2], which consists of an increment in the urinary excretion of zinc and chronic deficiency of this metal.…”

“…Prasad et al [4] and Dogru et al [2] as sume that the deficiency of zinc in ^-thal assemia is supported by an increased uri nary excretion of the metal secondary to the release of zinc by erythrocytes subject ed to hyperhemolysis. This event when ex tended in time would explain the low lev els of zinc in serum and hair following progressive depletion of the metal's body reserves.…”

“…Prasad et al [4], Dogru et al [2] and Romeo et al [5] showed a depletion of zinc in homozygous /fthalassemic subjects. The authors assumed that the impaired growth of these patients could be partly due to the lack of zinc.…”

Zinc and Copper Status in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

“…Zinc deficiency has been con firmed to occur in sickle cell disease and it was also found that a further decrease occurs in the zinc level during sickle cell crises [3]. Zinc deficiency was also reported in other related hemoglobin disorders such as /i-thalassemia [11] hemoglobin-H disease and in /Fthalassemia hemoglobin E disease [12]. Zinc defi ciency in sickle cell disease has been attributed to the hemolytic process associated with this disease and the release of RBC zinc into the plasma and consequently into the urine [2].…”

Effect of desferrioxamine on urinary copper and zinc excretion in ?-thalassemia major patients

“…Urinary zinc excretion is markedly elevated in many clinical situations, including homozygote ␤-thalassemia major cases leading to chronic zinc deficiency [2][3][4][5]. Our previous study demonstrated that Zn excretion in urine is higher than normal in homozygote ␤-thalassemia cases even without DF therapy and is not further increased by DF [6].…”