Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients

Background: The risk of heavy metal toxicity, including lead and cadmium, is high in individuals with diseases requiring multiple blood transfusions like thalassemia. Objectives: To evaluate blood lead levels and serum cadmium in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients and the impact of iro...

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Main Authors: Balqees Kadhim Hasan, Meaad Kadhum Hassan, Wasan Hameed Saud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Medical Journal of Babylon
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4103/MJBL.MJBL_1071_23
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author Balqees Kadhim Hasan
Meaad Kadhum Hassan
Wasan Hameed Saud
author_facet Balqees Kadhim Hasan
Meaad Kadhum Hassan
Wasan Hameed Saud
author_sort Balqees Kadhim Hasan
collection DOAJ
description Background: The risk of heavy metal toxicity, including lead and cadmium, is high in individuals with diseases requiring multiple blood transfusions like thalassemia. Objectives: To evaluate blood lead levels and serum cadmium in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients and the impact of iron chelation therapy (ICT) on their levels. Materials and Methods: This case–control study involved 110 patients with TDT and 70 healthy individuals, their ages ranged from 4 to 37 years. Patients with TDT were subdivided into those on deferasirox (60 patients) and deferoxamine (50 patients). Blood samples were collected from all participants for complete blood counts of serum ferritin and iron. Serum cadmium and lead levels were estimated using an AA-7000 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: Mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower while serum iron and ferritin were significantly higher in TDT patients compared to the control group. Serum levels of lead and cadmium were not significantly different between healthy subjects and TDT patients, P > 0.05. Serum lead and cadmium levels were also not significantly different between patients on different iron chelators, P > 0.05. Pearson correlation did not reveal any significant correlation between lead (R* = 0.05 and 0.176) and cadmium (R* = -0.012 and -0.075) with each of serum iron and ferritin, respectively. Conclusions: Although serum levels of lead and cadmium were not significantly different between TDT patients and healthy individuals, the relatively high lead levels among studied participants need further studies to identify risk factors and to put an immediate action plan.
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spelling doaj-art-be8065c46051499fa2bedfd0ad5128f02025-08-20T03:49:56ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMedical Journal of Babylon1812-156X2312-67602025-04-0122243844310.4103/MJBL.MJBL_1071_23Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia PatientsBalqees Kadhim HasanMeaad Kadhum HassanWasan Hameed SaudBackground: The risk of heavy metal toxicity, including lead and cadmium, is high in individuals with diseases requiring multiple blood transfusions like thalassemia. Objectives: To evaluate blood lead levels and serum cadmium in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients and the impact of iron chelation therapy (ICT) on their levels. Materials and Methods: This case–control study involved 110 patients with TDT and 70 healthy individuals, their ages ranged from 4 to 37 years. Patients with TDT were subdivided into those on deferasirox (60 patients) and deferoxamine (50 patients). Blood samples were collected from all participants for complete blood counts of serum ferritin and iron. Serum cadmium and lead levels were estimated using an AA-7000 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: Mean hemoglobin level was significantly lower while serum iron and ferritin were significantly higher in TDT patients compared to the control group. Serum levels of lead and cadmium were not significantly different between healthy subjects and TDT patients, P > 0.05. Serum lead and cadmium levels were also not significantly different between patients on different iron chelators, P > 0.05. Pearson correlation did not reveal any significant correlation between lead (R* = 0.05 and 0.176) and cadmium (R* = -0.012 and -0.075) with each of serum iron and ferritin, respectively. Conclusions: Although serum levels of lead and cadmium were not significantly different between TDT patients and healthy individuals, the relatively high lead levels among studied participants need further studies to identify risk factors and to put an immediate action plan.https://doi.org/10.4103/MJBL.MJBL_1071_23cadmiumleadtransfusion-dependent thalassemia
spellingShingle Balqees Kadhim Hasan
Meaad Kadhum Hassan
Wasan Hameed Saud
Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
Medical Journal of Babylon
cadmium
lead
transfusion-dependent thalassemia
title Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
title_full Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
title_fullStr Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
title_full_unstemmed Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
title_short Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients
title_sort blood lead and cadmium levels in transfusion dependent thalassemia patients
topic cadmium
lead
transfusion-dependent thalassemia
url https://doi.org/10.4103/MJBL.MJBL_1071_23
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AT wasanhameedsaud bloodleadandcadmiumlevelsintransfusiondependentthalassemiapatients