ABSTRACT
beta thalassemia major is a hereditary disorder of hemoglobin synthesis associated with ineffective erythropoiesis and rapid red cell destruction resulting in sever anemia. Treatment consists of multiple blood transfusions, which is complicated by hemochromatosis in multiple organs including endocrine system. Impaired glucose metabolism is one of the above consequences in the pancreatic beta cells. To report the relationship and risk factors of impaired glucose tolerance test in patients with beta thalassemia major in Hilla, Iraq. Ninety-seven patients with p thalassemia major were enrolled in this study, which was done in Babylon Thalassemic center, Hilla, Iraq, between January and June 2009. There were 56 males [57.73%] and 41 females [42.26%]. The mean age at the time of enrollment was 9.36 +/- 3.75 year. The demographic characteristics of patients with beta-thalassemic major included the age, gender, and height, body weight, age at the first blood transfusion, age at the start of iron-chelation therapy, compliance with iron-chelation therapy, previous splenectomy and family history of diabetes. Estimation of serum ferritin concentration, existence of hepatitis B surface antigen, and hepatitis C antibody were done. All 97 patients underwent oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]. Blood samples for glucose were drawn at 0 and 120 minutes. Impaired glucose tolerance test [IGT] was found in 5 patients [5.15%], and 92 patients [94.84%] had normal glucose tolerance test. Comparing the patients with normal glucose tolerance test to those with impaired glucose tolerance test, significant differences were found in the serum ferritin concentration. Physicians caring for patients with thalassemia major should be particularly alert to the possibility of diabetes. Serum ferritin concentration, a marker for hepatic iron concentration, was found to be a risk factor in this study