Purine Catabolic Enzymes and Nitric Oxide in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

Introduction: To clarify the mechanism of oxidative damage,which affects many tissues and organ systems in iron deficiency anemia, comes into prominence in the treatment and avoiding the complications of the disease. In the present study, serum uric acid, ADA, XO, and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured in patients with iron deficiency anemia and healthy controls in order to ascertain the function of the above parameters in oxidative stress metabolism. Materials and method: A total of 36 patients (27 female and 9 male with a mean age of 31.1 +/- 6.9 years) with iron deficiency anemia and 36 healty controls (29 female and 7 male with a mean age of 29.8 +/- 7.7 years) were included in the study. The patients blood parameters, serum iron level, total iron binding capacity and ferritin levels were determined by using commercial kits.Serum adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase and nitric oxide measurements were performed spectrophotometrically with manual methods. Results: The levels of xanthine oxidase and uric acid in patients with iron deficiency anemia were found to be significantly lower than healthy controls (p=0.01 and 0.003, respectively), while nitric oxide levels were found to be significantly higher (p = 0.003). Adenosine deaminase levels in patients with iron deficiency anemia were significantly lower than in healthy controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Discussion: It is known that, oxidative stress increases in iron deficiency anemia due to both increased oxidant molecules and the inadequate capacity of the antioxidant enzyme systems. Decreased levels of xanthine oxidase and uric acid and increased nitric oxide in patients with iron deficiency anemia compared to healthy population is considered to be a result of increased oxidative stress.