Study of zinc and growth hormone in sickle cell disease

About 25% of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have statural deficit and retarded skeletal maturation and pubertal development. These disorders have been attributed to low serum concentrations of zinc. We report the stu dy of serum zinc in 34 patients with SCD, of whom 17 had statural deficit ( SCS group) and 17 without growth deficiency (SCN group). They were compared with 20 normal children (N group). GH secretion and thyroid function were investigated in the group with short stature (SCS) in order to rule out GH deficiency and hypothyroidism. The mean serum zinc concentration was 108.45 +/- 22.888 mug/100 ml in the N group, 87.529 +/- 30.069 mug/100 ml in the SCN group and 82.765 +/- 34.766 mug/100 ml in the SCS group. There was a st atistically significant difference between the mean of the N group and the mean of the SCN group (p < 0.05) but no difference was found between the tw o groups of patients (N > SCN=SCS), Although there is a well-established zi nc deficiency in patients with SCD, the statural retardation found in the S CS group could not be attributed only to zinc deficiency. Many other severe metabolic disturbances are also involved.