Comparison Between Zinc, Copper and Iron Levels in Children with Beta Thalassemia Major And healthy Individuals in Najaf City

Abstract

Thalassemia is the most common hereditary anemia in human. The most common types of disease are the alpha and beta thalassemia .Beta thalassemia major is the most severe form requiring repeated blood transfusions and deferrioxamine injections.The present study aims to evaluating the serum iron, copper and zinc in thalassemia centre in AL-Zahraa hospital at Najaf city. Forty four patients (age from 3-16 years) with beta thalassemia major (20 males and 24 females) that undergo periodical blood transfusion and they are on deferrioxamine (DFO) as chelating agent were involved in this study. Fifty controls of matched age and gender (25 males and 25 females) were also, included in the study. Results showed that the zinc levels was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in beta thalassemia patients when compared with controls, but in contrast there is a significantly (p<0.05) increased of iron and copper levels in beta thalassemia major patients when compared with normal control. No significant correlation between serum zinc and copper levels with age, duration of blood transfusion, deferrioxamine dose, only strong relationship between copper and zinc levels and ferritine levels was observed in thalassemic patients.