Red Cell Na+/K+- Atpase (NKA) Activity and Serum Electrolyte Concentration of Patients with Major Thalassemia Disease in Babylon Province/Iraq

Abstract

Background: -thalassemia is inherited hemoglobinopathies resulting in structural and quantitative changes in the -globin, characterized by increased red blood cell breakdown, less than its normal life. Objectives: This study investigated the measurement of enzymeNKA activitypresent in the red blood cell membranein -thalassemia major patients and measurementthe electrolytes' (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium) concentration in serum. And its relationship to the activity of the enzyme NKA. Methods: This study included 54 patients with -thalassemia (in steady-state), and a control group of 30 age-matched individuals without blood diseases. Red blood cell NKAactivity and electrolytes were measured for the -thalassemia and control group. The study found that there is an increase in the activity of theNKAcompared to the control group, and that there are significant differences in terms of the value P< 0.01 and that there is an increase in the level of iron in the blood serum of patients compared to the control group as well as the results showed that the level of electrolytes in the blood serum within the references range, except for calcium, there is a decrease from the references range. Conclusion: -thalassemia major is associated with alterations in markers of NKA activity and iron of serum but there are no significant relationship between the activity of NKA and electrolyte level. Its level is not affected by thalassemia.