The iron status in normal and anaemic individuals before and after iron chemotherapy by chemical methods
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Date
1997-06-07
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Abstract
Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TTBC), Percentage Saturation (PSAT), Serum Ferritin, Haemoglobin levels and Sickling status were determined in 228 pregnant women, 57 anaemic children, 71 rural children, 90 urban children (control group for the children) and 69 adults ( control group) before iron chemotherapy and after. The assays were mainly conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (K.A.T.H, Kumasi) and the St. Theresa’s Hospital (Nkoranza). Ferritin determinations were carried out at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (Accra). Samples were obtained from Accra, Kumasi and
Nkranza.
Serum Iron and TIBC were estimated using a new colorimethc method which was designed. PSAT was estimated from the serum Iron and TIBC results. Where samples were insufficient for TIBC determination, as in some paediatric cases, Transferrin was determined by RadialImmuno-Diffusion, and the TIBC estimated. Ferritin was determined by Enzyme ImmunoAssay techniques using AXIA II equipment.
Iron deficiency (as measured by total serum iron) in pregnant women was 26.1 per cent; 42.3 per cent in the rural children; 40.4 percent in hospitalized anaemic children; 4.2 per cent in urban children and 10 per cent in the adult group, before chemotherapy. After 4 weeks iron chemotherapy, iron deficiency dropped to 12.5 per cent in the pregnant women; 22.8 per cent in the hospitalized anaemic children; 22.5 per cent in the rural children and 1.4 per cent in the adult control group. The urban children did not undergo iron chemotherapy because they had good serum iron levels to begin with.
There was no correlation between the sickling status and serum iron parameters. However, there was a positive correlation between age and the haemoglobin concentration.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Molecular Medicine, 1997