ABSTRACT
Despite medical advances in management of beta.Thalassemia, growth failure, pubertal delay and hypogonadism remain significant clinical problems in thalassemic patients in adolescence. Leptin levels were significantly lower in females with thalassemia major compared with normal females. This study was designed to assess serum leptin level and anterior pituitary gland hormones [F.S.H. and L.H] among thalassemic females during puberty and to correlate serum leptin level and S.ferritin level. Twenty eight female patients with P thalassemia major aged 10-18 years and 28 matched normal females were included. Anthropometric measures; assessment of puberty, Hb%, ALT, AST, S.creat., FSH, LH, S.Ferritin, S. Leptin levels were performed for the two groups. There was significant positive correlation between Serum leptin hormone level and FSH and LH in thalassemic group. A significant number of thalas-semics had delayed puberty, low FSH and LH and low serum leptin levels