ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the pulmonary function of children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, and to correlate its pattern with serum iron status. Methods: Cross-sectional study done in the pediatrics department of a tertiary care hospital from June, 2018 to May, 2019. 66 children aged 5-18 years with ?-thalassemia and HbE/?-thalassemia, admitted for blood transfusion, and with a history of minimum 20 transfusions, were enrolled. Estimation of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio by spirometer, estimation of serum ferritin and CRP, and chest X-rays were done in all the participants. Results: 53 (80.3%) children had HbE/?-thalassemia, and 47 (71.2%) showed restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. The mean serum ferritin with impaired pulmonary function was 5616 (70.34) ng/mL and serum ferritin level had significant correlation with pulmonary function (P<0.001). Conclusion: Restrictive pattern of pulmonary dysfunction was common in children with thalassemia, and body iron status had a significant association with pulmonary impairment.