Ferric reducing capacity and oxidative stress index in sera and saliva of Iraqi patients with homozygous β-thalassemia major

الملخص

Background and aim: β-thalassemia major is an autosomal recessive disease that leads to a severe hemolytic anemia in early infancy. Study of the oxidative stress in sera and saliva of homozygous β-thalassemia major patients is the aim of the present study.
Materials and methods: Serum and saliva specimens were collected from 91 males, 51 cases were β-thalassemia major patients, aged 11 to 26 years (mean= 15.275 ± 4.4501 years) and 40 were age- and gender-matched healthy controls.
Results: The results for the serum specimen showed a highly significant decrease (P<0.001) in total antioxidant status (TAS), and a highly significant increase (P<0.001) in ferric reducing capacity (FRC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative index (OSI) in all studied patients compared with that of control group. While in saliva specimen, a non-significant decrease (P>0.05) in TAS with a non-significant increase (P>0.05) in FRC while a significant increase (P<0.05) in both TOS and OSI in the patients compared with that of control group.
Conclusion: The following can be concluded based on the results of the current study: the measured oxidative stress in Iraqi thalassemia patients due to the increase in FRC and the decrease in TAS. Furthermore, saliva can be used as an alternative fluid instead of serum for measurement of FRC in β-thalassemia major patients.