ABSTRACT
Beta-thalassemia/Hb E is a genetic disease prevalent in Thailand. This study has used atomic absorption spectroscopy to evaluate red cell and plasma calcium, copper and zinc in patients with beta-thalassemia/Hb E, both splenectomized and non-splenectomized. The levels of these trace elements in both red cells and plasma were different between the non-thalassemic controls and the disease patients. The most prominent result was that calcium concentration in red cells increased significantly in thalassemia subjects, particularly in splenectomized cases. These results might reflect the abnormal trace element metabolism and defects in the calcium transport system of the red cell membrane in thalassemia.
Subject(s)
Adult , Calcium/blood , Copper/blood , Erythrocytes/chemistry , Female , Hemoglobin E , Humans , Male , Plasma/chemistry , Spectrophotometry, Atomic , Splenectomy , Thalassemia/blood , Zinc/bloodABSTRACT
Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ASCE) has some clinical values, especially in sarcoidosis. The activity of the enzyme in serum is thus determined in healthy adults and new borns as a reference value. There was no difference between sexes in any group. The mean value in 167 adults, aged from 15 to 50 years was 36.3 + 9.6 units/ml, but the suggested reference value was 35.2 + 9.8 units/ml. for 107 persons, aged 18 to 30 years and for which risks and underlying disorders are naturally smaller than for other groups.