Effects of Splenectomy on Natural Killer Cell Levels in β-Thalassemia Major Patients
Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, cilt.38, sa.9, 2024 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 38 Sayı: 9
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Doi Numarası: 10.1002/jcla.25046
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: NK cell, T-helper cell, T-suppressor cell, beta-thalassemia major
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aim: In this study, we investigated how splenectomy affects natural killer (NK) cell levels in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM). Materials and Methods: Seventy patients with β-TM (38 splenectomized and 32 nonsplenectomized) and 25 healthy controls were included in this study. The hemogram parameters, ferritin, T lymphocyte, T-helper cell, T-suppressor cell, and NK cell numbers, were measured. Results: The T lymphocyte (CD3+) level was found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p < 0.05). CD3+/CD4+ T lymphocytes were detected to be significantly higher in the patient group (p < 0.05). Although the CD3+/CD4+ T lymphocyte level was significantly higher in the nonsplenectomy group (p < 0.05), this was not the case in the splenectomy group. When the patient and control groups were compared, no significant difference was detected regarding CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocyte levels. CD3−/CD16+CD56+ NK cell level was found to be significantly lower only in the splenectomy group than in the control group (p < 0.05). We found that there was a significant negative correlation between serum ferritin levels and both total lymphocyte (r = −0.617) and CD3+ lymphocyte (r = −0.718) levels in the control group (p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was detected between serum ferritin levels and CD3−/CD16+CD56+ NK cell levels in the patient group (r = −0.410) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Splenectomy reduces NK cell levels in patients with β-TM. The negative relationship between ferritin levels and NK cells indicates that ferritin levels should be kept under control in patients with β-TM.