Growth velocity in transfusion dependent prepubertal thalassemia patients: results from a thalassemia center in Malaysia.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
2008 Sep; 39(5): 900-5
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-33086
ABSTRACT
Growth impairment is commonly seen in children with thalassemia despite regular blood transfusions and desferrioxamine treatments. We investigated the growth velocity of 26 prepubertal patients with beta-thalassemia or HbE-beta thalassemia who were transfusion dependent aged between 2 and 13 years. The prevalence of impaired growth velocity (ie, growth velocity less than the third percentile) amongst the transfusion dependent prepubertal thalassemics was 57.7% compared to 19.2% in the control group. The mean height velocity of the thalassemics was 11.1% less than controls but this difference was not statistically significant (4.23cm/year vs 4.76cm/year, p = 0.08). The mean serum ferritin level of the thalassemics with a height < 3rd percentile was higher compared to those with a height > 3rd percentile (4,567.0 vs 2,271.0, p = 0.01). Our study showed that there was a high prevalence of impaired growth velocity amongst our transfusion dependent prepubertal thalassemics. This highlights the problem of inadequate chelation therapy, and compliance with chelation therapy amongst our patients. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring growth parameters and optimal iron chelation therapy in these patients.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Blood Transfusion
/
Body Height
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Child, Preschool
/
China
/
Adolescent
/
Age Factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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