This study has been undertaken to find out whether urinary zinc excret
ion, which is already increased in patients with thalassemia, is furth
er increased by usual and high doses of desferrioxamine (DF). A total
of 11 beta-thalassemia major patients were included. DF infusions have
been performed with doses, either 50 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg. Nine age and
sex matched normal children were taken as the control group. The mean
basal-Zn excretion of the patients was significantly higher than the
mean Zn excretion observed in controls. No significant difference is o
bserved between the mean Zn excretion obtained on different doses of D
F. However, they are both significantly higher than the mean basal-Zn-
levels of the controls.