Plasma protein oxidation is correlated positively with plasma iron levels and negatively with hemolysate zinc levels in sickle-cell anemia patients.

Introduction: Sickle-cell anemia (SCA) is a disease of high oxidative stress. The oxidative medium of SCA was evaluated by protein oxidation parameters and their correlation with lipids and ions were investigated both in the plasma and in the erythrocyte.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 15 steady-state patients with SCA, 10 carriers, and 10 controls. Plasma protein carbonyl, total sulfhydryl, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipids, and bilirubin levels were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Plasma copper, zinc, and iron levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and ions were also determined in the hemolysate lipid extract.

Results: Patients had increased protein carbonyl and decreased total sulfhydryl levels compared with controls. Plasma cholesterol levels were lower than controls, and triglyceride levels were higher than carriers in patients with SCA. Plasma iron and hemolysate copper were higher in patients than carriers and controls. Plasma protein carbonyl levels were found to be correlated with plasma iron and hemolysate zinc levels in the patient group.

Conclusion: Alterations of proteins, lipids, and ions in the plasma and erythrocyte of steady-state patients with SCA were demonstrated. Some of these alterations are related with each other and with the oxidative stress observed in the disease.