Study of different treatment schedules in patients with Thalassemia Major and its relation to mineral, trace elements and albumin blood level among them

Abstract

Background: The Thalassemias (the commonest monogenic diseases) are a family of inherited disorders of hemoglobin synthesis, The classic changes of untreated Thalassemia major are now regularly seen only in countries without resources to support long- term transfusion program. Our aims were to study the relation between treatment schedules, hemoglobin level, trace element, minerals and albumin level among group of Thalassemic patients.Subject &Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted for the period from August till December 2002, in the center for anemia of Mediterranean origin in Ibin-Al-Bildy hospital in Baghdad city, where 121 patients with Thalassemia major attending the center for transfusion were selected and tests were done for different serum levels of trace element, minerals, hemoglobin and albumin using standard methods Results: The mean level of trace element, minerals albumin were all significantly lower among the sample of patients except copper which was significantly higher than normal mean. The desferroxamine therapy negatively correlated with zinc, albumin and magnesium (significant) level. Vitamin C therapy negatively correlated with zinc (significant), selenium and magnesium. Foliate therapy correlated significantly with albumin TIBC, and had non-significant negative correlation with copper, zinc, selenium, calcium and magnesium.Conclusion & Recommendation: The study shows that majority of patients were of young age groups < 20 years of age with large proportion of them suffering growth retardation and abnormally low level of some studied trace element minerals and albumin suggesting the possibility of inaccurate treatment schedules. It is recommended that more centers for thalassemia are to be established in different areas in our country, with increase efficiency for treatment and follow up of patients, the need for newer therapy like stem cell transplantation, and to establish programs based on carrier screening and counseling of couples at marriage, preconception or early pregnancy, Key word: treatment schedules in thalassemic patients, relation to mineral and trace element level