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Frequency of Zinc Deficiency Among Thalassemia Major Patients: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Beta thalassemia major is a common autosomal recessive blood disorder that arises due to reduced or absent synthesis of the globin chain of hemoglobin. It serves as an alternative therapy in transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia to reduce the burden of blood transfusions. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the frequency of zinc deficiency among two distinct populations of thalassemic children: those with transfusion-dependent thalassemia and those on fetal hemoglobin (HbF) augmentation therapy (hydroxyurea). The secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroxyurea on zinc levels in patients receiving this drug therapy. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of two months following approval from the Institutional Review Board. Thalassemic patients were divided into two groups for analysis: regularly transfused patients and those on HbF augmentation therapy (hydroxyurea) with infrequent or no blood transfusions. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 7.7 ± 3.2 years, of which 51% were male and 49% were female. The frequency of zinc deficiency among individuals receiving regular transfusions was 56%, while the frequency of zinc deficiency among individuals taking hydroxyurea with infrequent transfusions was 42%. Although the frequency of zinc deficiency was higher among patients receiving blood transfusions, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.161). CONCLUSION: In this study, it was found that hydroxyurea-treated thalassemic children had a lower frequency of zinc deficiency compared to transfusion-dependent thalassemic children; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96523