RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Neutropenic fever and mucositis with 70% outbreak average is one of the major reasons of death in the acute leukemia adult patients. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of serum zinc level with neutropenic fever and mucositis prevalence in acute leukemia adult patients and comparison of the effects of therapeutic intervention with the serum zinc correct level in the group of patients with zinc deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2012 to May 2013 in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, on the basis of zinc serum level, 40 acute leukemia adult patients were divided into two groups of normal and deficiency zinc, and neutropenic fever and mucositis prevalence were taken into consideration in each and every group. The deficiency zinc patients were randomly allocated to zinc or control group in a blocked randomization schedule. The data analysis was performed by SPSS software 20 and with the aid of variance analysis statistical method, logistic regression, and X2 statistical test. RESULTS: Serum zinc level was higher in acute leukemia adult patients without mucositis and neutropenic fever than others but was not statistically significant. There is a positive relation between receiving zinc with recovery; although the relationship has not become statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These data, although preliminary, suggest that zinc therapy could be a valid therapeutic adjuvant to improve the quality-of-life of acute leukemia adult patients.