ENT complications in B-thalassemia major

ABSTRACT

During three years [from 1989-1991], 100 cases of homozygous beta-thalassemia were investigated for ENT complications. All cases were receiving irregular, low dose. subcutaneous infusion of desferrioxamine. One hundred healthy subjects were studied as controls. Conductive hearing loss in 20 patients [20%; 18 bilateral] and sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies in 5 patients [5%; 4 bilateral] were found. Ototoxic effects of desferrioxamine are dose-related and can occur at relatively high doses. The homozygous beta thalassemic patients showed more auditory impairment than controls. There was also a higher incidence of tonsillar hypertrophy, adenotonsillitis and submandibular lymph node enlargement compared with the controls. Twenty patients [20%] had significant problems requiring surgery