Effect of thalassemia/hemoglobin E disease on macro, trace, and ultratrace element concentration in human tissue
Shuler, TR; Pootrakul, P; Yarnsukon, P; Nielsen, FH
Limited attention has been given to the possibility that elements other than iron are abnormally distributed or retained in various organs of individuals with iron-loading anemias such as thalassemia. Thus, autopsy samples were obtained from organs of individuals with β-thalassemia/HbE disease and nonthalassemic individuals who died in accidents. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc, chromium, molybdenum, selenium, boron, manganese, nickel, aluminum, and vanadium concentrations in samples taken from brain, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, and spleen were determined. As expected, the iron concentration was markedly elevated in all organs, except brain, of the thalassemic subjects. In addition, a number of changes were found which were indicative of abnormal macromineral metabolism. For example, the heart and kidney from thalassemic subjects contained elevated concentrations of calcium and boron. Other noteworthy changes in the thalassemic subjects were marked elevations in the concentration of selenium in the liver and pancreas and in the concentration of aluminum in brain, heart, kidney, and liver. The concentration of magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, cadmium, or vanadium was significantly altered by thalassemia in at lest one organ. However, the magnitude of most of these changes was not very remarkable. The findings indicate that the abnormal metabolism of mineral elements in addition to iron might be contributing to the pathology of thalassemia.