RESUMEN
The objective of this study was, to evaluate the total antioxidants in thalassemic patients compared to normal controls and the correlation between this and various parameters especially splenectomy and chelation therapy. This study included 26 thalassemic patients from Alexandria University children's hospital. Their age ranged from 4-24 years. Hemoglobin electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and total antioxidant assays using a colorimetric method [Randox Laboratories UK] and serum ferritin levels were done at least three weeks from the last blood transfusion. The mean serum level of total antioxidants in thalassemic patients was significantly lower than the control group. However, there was no correlation detected between the level of antioxidants and regularity of chelation therapy. Also there was no difference between values for different thalassemic types. This work has been presented, in part, at the XXII International Congress of Pediatrics in Amsterdam 9-14 August 1998