Numerous laboratory abnormalities reflect the accumulation of excessive iron and the consequences of iron-induced organ damage, and they are described in the following sections. Serum zinc levels may fall to abnormally low levels. A relationship between this finding and growth failure has been postulated but not established.85,86 Low levels of plasma and leukocyte ascorbic acid are common in thalassemic patients because of increased metabolism of the vitamin to oxalic acid in the presence of iron overload. However, the combination of mild thrombocytopenia from hypesplenism and low coagulation factors and platelet dysfunction from liver disease may cause or aggravate bleeding

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