[Evaluation of endocrine disorders in patients with thalassemia major]

Thalassemia major is a genetic disorder, in which blood transfusion is critical for the survival of patients. Over the course of the past two and three decades, hypertransfusion therapy in these patients has significantly increased life expectancy and quality of life. Unfortunately however this type of therapy has also increased the frequency of complications due to iron overload. Today endocrine abnormalities are far more common than before in beta-thalassemia patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of endocrine disturbances in patients with thalassemia major, aged over 10 years. Fifty-six patients, aged over 10 years, with thalassemia major were enrolled. Physicians collected demographic data and history of therapies as well as menstrual history in females. Patients were examined to determine their pubertal status and SDS of height for evaluation of short stature. For evaluation of glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorous, thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxin, luteinizing hormone, and follicular stimulating hormone, estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys were measured. Fifty-six patients 10 to 27 years with thalassemia major old were evaluated. In this study, the prevalences of diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance test were 8.9%, 28.6% and 7.1% respectively. Short stature [SDS

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan in 2003

Patients with major beta-thalassemia have been exposed to a wide range of blood-borne viruses among which hepatitis B and C viruses have a considerable importance. In this study, seroprevalence and risk factor of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan were evaluated. Eighty four thalassemic patients who were regularly transfused at Children Hospital [Tabriz] enrolled in this observational study. Some data were collected through questionnaires and patients' medical history; then, patients were evaluated for the presence of HCVAb, HBsAg, HIVAb, HBsAb, HBcAb and ferritin by ELISA; moreover, HCV positive sera were confirmed by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay [RIBA-3.0]. None of the eighty-four thalassemic patients were HIV and HBV positive; however, 6 [7.1%] were HCV positive. Distribution of sex and the mean ferritin did not differ from HCV-positive to HCV-negative patients, but the age average was significantly higher in HC V-positive patients [p<0.001]. Moreover, HCV-positive patients had a significantly longer history of transfusion compared with HCV-negative patients [p<0.001]. The prevalence of HCV in those patients who had received their first blood transfusion before the implementation of compulsory testing for HCV in 1995 was significantly lower. In other words, no case became infected after the initiation of donor screening test for HCV.The prevalence of HCV in thalassemic patients of East Azarbaijan was lower compared to other provinces of Iran and all positive cases in this study went back to the time period preceeding 1995 that is before the implementation of compulsory HCV screening tests