Zinc Deficiency As a Possible Etiological Factor of Hepatosplenomegaly in Isfahan, Iran



Daneshgar H¹ ; Maleky M¹ ; Farivar H¹ ; Moghimy G¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Pahlavi Medical Journal Published:1974

Abstract

Hepatosplenomegaly is a frequent finding on physical examination of patients in hospitals. This investigation was undertaken to study the role of zinc deficiency in hepatosplenomegaly of unknown etiology in patients living in Isfahan and surrounding villages. 3000 hospital records belonging to the period 1968 through 1973 were reviewed and 374 patients with hepatosplenomegaly were found. Sixteen of the patients had low serum zinc. The age of these patients was between 15 and 23 yr, 3 were female, and the remaining 13 male. Serum zinc of these patients was between 65 and 80 μg/100 ml. The serum zinc of patients reported from Shiraz was 72 ± 12 μg/100 ml; the normal value for serum zinc is 120 ± 19 μg/100 ml. Liver biopsy and other liver function tests in 10 of the zinc deficient patients were normal. It is concluded that zinc deficiency could be one of the etiological factors of hepatosplenomegaly in the Isfahan Province. Protein deprivation, cereal diet, clay eating and liver disease were the main etiological factors for zinc deficiency in the patients. Further study should be carried out to determine the therapeutic value of zinc supplementation in this group of patients.