title: Efficacy of zinc therapy in prevention of crisis in sickle cell anemia: a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: 145 patients were recruited in the trial while 130 completed it. Patients were randomized to receive zinc sulphate capsules. 220 mgm three times a day or identical placebo. Major outcome variable was 'Sickle cell crisis'. After a follow up of 1.5 years, the mean number of episodes of crisis was 2.46 +/- 1.04 in the intervention group and 5.29 +/- 2.58 in the control group (p < 0.025; 95% CI for difference between groups: 1.98, 3.42). Mean duration of hospital stay was 4.3 +/- 2.2 days in the intervention group and 3.9 +/- 1.6 days in the control group. The difference was not significant (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction of the mean number of infective episodes and associated morbidity in patients with sickle cell anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Government Medical College, Nagpur, India.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chaubey
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002214:Capsules; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D013431:Sulfates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
chemical_list: D000986:Antisickling Agents; D002214:Capsules; D010919:Placebos; D013431:Sulfates; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc