ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Trace elements are required for the performance of numerous functions of immune cells. It is not clear whether levels of trace elements are elevated and whether there is a relationship between the levels of liver enzymes and trace elements in patients with sickle cell anaemia in crisis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the plasma levels of liver enzymes and trace elements in non sickle cell anaemia (NSCA); sickle cell anaemia subjects in the steady state (SCASS) and sickle cell anaemia patients in crisis (SCAC). METHODS: Haematological parameters; liver enzymes and trace elements were determined in 20 NSCA subjects; 20 SCASS subjects and 18 SCAC subjects. Variables studied included aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alanine aminotransaminase (ALT); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and the trace elements copper; zinc; and manganese. RESULTS: Levels of liver enzymes were higher in the SCAC subjects than in the NSCA or SCASS subjects (p