0984

OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN EGYPTIAN ß-THALASSEMIC CHILDREN

Nosair A.E.; Abdel Fattah F.; Khater N.M. and El-Nagar I.Z.*

Pediatric and Biochemistry* Departments

Zagazig Faculty of Medicine

Zagazig, Egypt

Objective

Study of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in children with ß-thalassemia major in view of the secondary iron overload induced by frequent blood transfusions.

Methods

75 ß-thalassemic children (7.47 + 2.29 years and 15 healthy age and sex matched control children were examined for serum levels of iron, ferritin, uric acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lipid peroxide, glutathione peroxidase enzyme and superoxide dismutase enzyme.

Results

Compared with controls, ß-thalassemic children had significantly elevated levels of serum iron, ferritin, uric acid, lipid peroxide and superoxide dismutase. On the other hand, serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and glutathione peroxidase were significantly lowered in ß-thalassemic children than control children.

Conclusion

ß-thalassemic patients had extremely altered pattern of all serum antioxidants because of their continuous exposure to iron-induced oxidative tissue injury induced by repeated blood transfusions. So strict and regular iron chelation therapy is crucial for minimizing oxidative tissue injury in ß-thalassemic children. In addition, antioxidant compounds may be administered with careful administration of vitamin C.