Serum micronutrient levels and disease severity score in patients with sickle cell anaemia

Background Disease severity in patients with sickle cell
anaemia (SCA) is accentuated by the risk for infection,
which could potentially be influenced by serum levels of
micronutrients, particularly those that are components of the
antioxidant system of the body.
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate serum
levels of the micronutrients zinc, copper, selenium and
magnesium in our SCA patients and to compare these with
the objective score of disease severity.
Patients and methods Twenty-six confirmed (using
cellulose acetate electrophoresis, in alkaline pH)
homozygous sickle cell patients were prospectively
recruited in steady-state conditions. Each participant
had 8 ml of venous blood collected