Role of sickling crisis with serum zinc in children with sickle cell anemia

Abstract

Background and objectives: Sickle cell anemia causes painful crises by the occlusion of small blood vessels by spontaneous intravascular sickling. The aim of this study is to determine the possible association of Zinc deficiency with painful crises among patients with sickle cell anemia. Methods: A case – control study included 50 children with sickle cell anemia during painful crisis, 50 with Sickle cell anemia without painful crisis and 50 normal children (control group). Serum zinc was measured for all participants and statistically analyzed to test the presence of a possible significant relation between serum zinc and painful crises in sickle cell anemia. Results: The mean age of all study population was 9.79 ± 4.54 years and male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Weight, height, body mass index, Hemoglobin and packed cell volume are lower in those with sickle cell anemia as compared to controls but the difference is not statistically significant. White blood cells count is significantly higher in those with sickle cell anemia and painful crisis than those with sickle cell anemia but no painful crisis and the normal controls. Liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase are significantly higher among patients than controls. Serum zinc is lower in patients with sickle cell anemia and painful crisis than those with sickle cell anemia but without painful crisis and the normal controls (88.84±31.20, 98.62±20.78, 101.38±24.49 µg/dl respectively) and the difference is statistically significant. Conclusion: Zinc deficiency is significantly associated with predisposition to painful crises in children with sickle cell anemia.