Zinc Status and its Correlation with Basic Parameters in Transfusion Dependent Thalassemic Patients: A Pakistani Perspective

Background: β-thalassemia is an autosomal hemoglobinopathy with inconsistent universal distribution. among patients with thalassemia diverse non-siderotic complications distinctly influence the attribute of life, including zinc deficiency due to varied etiologies. the objective of the present study was to determine zinc levels in patients with β-thalassemia major and its correlation with maternal characteristics, hematological parameters, liver enzymes, serum ferritin, duration of chelation and number of transfusions among pakistani patients. patients and methods: seventy-five β-thalassemia major patients on desferrioxamine were enrolled from august 2010 to july 2012. cbc, liver function tests, serum ferritin, hbsag and anti-hcv were evaluated. zinc level was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. results: the mean age of patients was 10.57±3.5 years. forty one (54.7%) and 34(45.3%) patients were males and females respectively. the frequency of zinc deficiency was 24%. we established positive correlation between zinc deficiency and longer duration of chelation (p<0.001) and also with anemia (p<0.001). no correlation could be established with other parameters. conclusion: our study revealed that hypozincemia is not unusual in β-thalassemic patients on desferrioxamine. we propose zinc levels should be regularly measured primarily in anemic patients with long duration of chelation.