Copper Status in Patients with Thalassemia Major in Zahedan, Iran

INTRODUCTION: There have been many reports and papers on deficient, normal and high levels of copper in patients with thalassemia major. The aim of this study is to evaluate copper status in a series of more than 300 patients with thalassemia major and determine the degree of copper deficiency or excess. METHODS: Three hundred and seventy patients with thalassemia major over 5 years of age were enrolled in this study. All patients were asked to fast for 12 hours before the test. Measurement was performed using atomic-absorption spectrophotometer in 2012 in southeast of Iran. RESULTS: The study included both males (n = 192) and females (n = 141). Of whom, 90 (27%) were aged 5-10 yrs, 80 (24%) were aged 10-15 yrs and 49% were above 15 years of age. Iron chelation therapy was dessferroxamine, deferasirox and dessferroxamine and deferiprone combinations in 61.5 %( 204 cases), 24.2%( 82 cases) and 14.3%( 47 cases), respectively. Among the 370 cases, 107 (32.1%) had copper deficiency, 73 (21.9%) had copper excess and 153 (45.9%) had normal copper level. CONCLUSION: High percentage of copper deficiency was documented in 333 patients with thalassemia major and about 50% of patients had normal copper level. This finding showed the importance of micronutrient measurement in thalassemic patients for treatment planning in every part of the world.