Blood lead levels and serum iron in hypochromic microcytic anemia in Egyptian children

This study was conducted on one hundred children suffering from hypochromic microcytic anemia after exclusion of thalassemic trait [A 2 >3.4%] and evaluation of serum iron and blood lead levels as an etiological factor. Twenty matched control children are included. According to serum iron and TIBC of our patients have iron deficiency anemia. And according to blood lead levels 59% of our patients have blood lead levels above the upper limit of Center For Disease Control [CDC] in 1985 [25 Ug/dl] and 91% of our patients have blood lead levels above the upper limit of CDC, in 1991 [10 Ug/dl]. Also we concluded that elevation of blood lead is more common in the children who exhibit pica and whose parent's are exposed to lead in their jobs, and whose mothers use newspapers and magazines in kitchen and in low socioeconomic group. Elevated blood lead is common in Urban children while iron deficiency is common in rural children. The blood lead is higher among school age than preschool age. According to blood lead levels, serum iron and TIBC we grouped our patients into: 43% have both iron deficiency and high blood lead levels. 27% have iron deficiency. 16% have high blood lead levels. 14% need further investigation to detect the cause of hypochromic anemia

Coagulopathy of childhood Nephrotic syndrome

To estimate the levels of plasma protein S [total + free] in nephrotic children in order to assess its contribution to the hypercoagulable state in onephrotic syndrome This work was conducted on 20 children with nephrotic syndrome, their age ranged from 3.5 to 17 years and they were categorized into 2 groups. Group A: Consisted of 10 children, they were evaluated during relapse [edema and proteinuria]. Group B: Consisted of 10 children, they were evaluated during remission [no edema and proteinuria]. Group C: A control group of 15 children. All the children were subjected to the following, total serum proteins, serum albumin, serum cholesterol, blood urea, serum creatinine, complete blood picture, ESR and P.T.T. and plasma protein S level [total and free] by [ELISA]. There is a significant increase of the platelet count in nephrotic patients during relapse compared with either the nephrotic patients in remission and the control group. Morover a significant shortening of P.T.T. was observed in nephrotic patients in relapse compared with those in remission and the control group. The total plasma protein S level was not significantly different in the nephrotic patients in relapse compared with either the nephrotic patients in remission or the control group, while the free plasma P.S level was significantly reduced in nephrotic patients in relapse compared with those in remission and the control group. A significant positive correlation was observed between the free plasma P.S. level and serum albumin in nephrotic patients in relapse, and in remission while a significant negative correlation was detected between the free plasma PS level and serum cholesterol in nephrotic patients in relapse and in remission. The hypercoagulable state in nephrotic children is evidenced by hypercholesterolemia, thrombocytosis, shortened P.T.T. in addition to reduced level of free P.S.