Determination of trace elements status of Nigerians with sickle cell anaemia using INAA and PIXE

Abstract

The clinical application of trace elements in the management of Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) has not become standard recommended practice despite decade s of research. A major reason for this is the ambivalence in published results as to the relative importance of some of these elements in the disease. An attempt has been mad e in this work to correct some of the various factors that could contribute to such inconsistencies. Results from separate investigations carried out on Nigerian subjects by our group, using both INA A and PIX E method s have been holistically evaluated and compared. Trace and minor elements were determined in wholeblood, erythrocytes, plasma, headhair and nail obtained from S C A patients in steady state and compare d with identical sample s from normal controls. Twelve elements were determined in blood while 2 0 and 3 0 elements were analysed in nail and hair sample s respectively from the total 2 2 5 subjects. T h e results indicate a general mild zinc deficiency, more serious f or males, in Nigeria n S C A patients. It is clear that the elements N a, K, Rb and Br play key role s in maintaining homeostasis in the steady-state S C A patients. Possible sender influence in the utilization of K, Br and F e in S C A is also suggested .