Changes of trace elements and nutritional proteins in children with acute leukemia at remission stage

Abstract

Objective To investigate the changes of serum trace elements and nutritional proteins in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia at the stage of remission.Methods Erythrocyte count,hemoglobin,serum levels of total protein,albumin,iron,ferritin,transferrin,lactate dehydrogenase,ceruloplasmin,cuprum,zinc and their ratio were measured in 43 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,19patients with acute myeloid leukemia at stages of remission(remission groups),and 30 healthy controls(control group)enrolled from Shanghai Children's Medical Center using atomic absorption spectrometry,nophelometry assay,dry chemical method,and chemiluminescence method.The differences of these indicators between remission groups and control group were analyzed.Results Serum levels of total protein(P=0.454),iron(P=0.769),transferrin(P=0.903),and zinc(P=0.343)were not significantly different between the remission groups and the control group.Serum levels of ferritin(P=0.000),lactate dehydrogenase(P=0.000),ceruloplasmin(P=0.000),cuprum(P=0.002),and Cu/Zn ratio(P=0.003)in the remission groups were significantly higher than those in control group.On the contrary,erythrocyte count(P=0.000),hemoglobin(P=0.000)and albumin(P=0.046)were significantly lowerin remission groups than those of control group.Serum levels of all detected indicators were not significantly different between the acute lymphoblastic leukemia remission group and acute myeloid leukemia remission group(P>0.05)except for lactate dehydrogenase(P=0.025).Conclusion At the remission stage of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia,serum levels of some trace elements and nutritional proteins gradually returned to normal,and the original balance is established again. Key words: Leukemia; Trace element; Nutrition; Protein