Blood microelement profile in pediatric leukemia

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 50 subjects, 25 children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 25 healthy children age and sex matched with the patients. All patients were subjected to full history, thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigation as complete blood picture, liver function and bone marrow biopsy, for all subjects, the serum contents of copper, zinc, manganese, selenium and molybdenums were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric apparatus, the serum copper concentrations were significantly higher in leukaemic children than in normal control, while serum zinc concentrations were significantly lower in leukemic children. The Cu/Zn ratio discriminated well between the two groups of children. The concentrations of serum manganese and serum selenium were significantly higher among leukemic children, while the serum level of molybdenum showed little alteration from healthy children