An analysis of iron-load in 443 cases of thalassemia with different gene types / 第三军医大学学报

005), while iron overload occurred in 8 of 57 cases of ?-thalassemia (14.0%) and 89 out of 386 cases of ?-thalassemia (23.1%). Although the occurrence rate of iron overload in ?-thalassemia appeared higher than that in ?-thalassemia, no significant difference existed. Homozygote ?-thalassemia was prone to iron overload, followed by non-deletion HbH diseases, at the occurrence rate of 79.2% and 27.3% respectively. Iron deficiency was inclined to be associated with silent ?-thalassemia at the occurrence rate of 45.5%, followed by heterozygote ?-thalassemia (30.3%). Conclusion Both iron overload and iron deficiency can be found in thalassemia. Therefore, special treatments should be carried out according to given cases.