Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major

Aim: Multiple blood transfusions in beta thalassemia patients causes iron overload in various tissues including endocrine glands thereby leading to multiple endocrine dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the endocrine complications seen in beta thalassemia patients followed-up in outp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Birol Baytan, Halil Sağlam, Şahin Erdöl, Aysun Nedime Beyazıt, Taner Özgür, Adalet Meral Güneş, Ünsal Günay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Publishing House 2008-10-01
Series:Güncel Pediatri
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.guncelpediatri.com/yazilar.asp?yaziid=860&sayiid=
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846092568522129408
author Birol Baytan
Halil Sağlam
Şahin Erdöl
Aysun Nedime Beyazıt
Taner Özgür
Adalet Meral Güneş
Ünsal Günay
author_facet Birol Baytan
Halil Sağlam
Şahin Erdöl
Aysun Nedime Beyazıt
Taner Özgür
Adalet Meral Güneş
Ünsal Günay
author_sort Birol Baytan
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Multiple blood transfusions in beta thalassemia patients causes iron overload in various tissues including endocrine glands thereby leading to multiple endocrine dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the endocrine complications seen in beta thalassemia patients followed-up in outpatient clinics of Pediatric Hematology Division of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine. Materials and Methods: The files of patients with thalassemia major followed-up in outpatient clinics of Pediatric Hematology Division of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine from January 1976 to August 2008 were retrospectively evaluated for endocrine disorders. All patients had a detailed physical examination including palpation of thyroid gland and pubertal staging. Endocrine evaluation was performed in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology.Results: A total of 44 [20 female (45.5%); 24 male (54.5%); and mean chronological age 13.54±7.32 (2.75-35.2) years] patients were evaluated. The ratios of patients with endocrine dysfunction were 27.2 % and 90.9%, respectively, when we exclude or include those with osteoporosis/osteopenia or growth failure other than growth hormone deficiency. Of all patients, 27 (61.3%) had osteoporosis, 17 (38.6%) had growth retardation, 11 (25%) had osteopenia, 6 (13.6%) had hypogonadism, 3 (6.8%) had hypothyroidism, 2 (4.5%) had hypoparathyroidism, 1 (2.3) had growth hormone deficiency, and 1 (2.3) had type 1 diabetes mellitus. Mean ferritin levels and monthly transfusion numbers were 1976.15±1494.75 ng/ml and 1.46±0.34, respectively. There were no significant association between ferritin levels, monthly transfusion needs, and endocrine dysfunctions studied. Endocrine dysfunctions did not differ significantly amongst those having different chelating agents. The ratio of patients with growth retardations in 10 to 19-age-group was significantly higher than those in 0 to 9-age-group (30.6% vs 8.3%; p=0.049). Conclusion: Patients with thalassemia major are under increased risk of various endocrine dysfunction. Bone health is significantly compromised. Those younger than 10 years should be closely followed for especially growth retardation and osteoporosis/osteopenia and those who are 10 years of age or older should be followed for all endocrine pathologies, especially for hypogonadism, growth retardation, and osteoporosis. (Journal of Current Pediatrics 2008; 6: 58-65)
format Article
id doaj-art-552323dba0634cd3b142f1908ba6acd9
institution Kabale University
issn 1304-9054
language English
publishDate 2008-10-01
publisher Galenos Publishing House
record_format Article
series Güncel Pediatri
spelling doaj-art-552323dba0634cd3b142f1908ba6acd92025-01-02T20:53:09ZengGalenos Publishing HouseGüncel Pediatri1304-90542008-10-01625865Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia MajorBirol BaytanHalil SağlamŞahin ErdölAysun Nedime BeyazıtTaner ÖzgürAdalet Meral GüneşÜnsal GünayAim: Multiple blood transfusions in beta thalassemia patients causes iron overload in various tissues including endocrine glands thereby leading to multiple endocrine dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the endocrine complications seen in beta thalassemia patients followed-up in outpatient clinics of Pediatric Hematology Division of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine. Materials and Methods: The files of patients with thalassemia major followed-up in outpatient clinics of Pediatric Hematology Division of Uludag University Faculty of Medicine from January 1976 to August 2008 were retrospectively evaluated for endocrine disorders. All patients had a detailed physical examination including palpation of thyroid gland and pubertal staging. Endocrine evaluation was performed in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology.Results: A total of 44 [20 female (45.5%); 24 male (54.5%); and mean chronological age 13.54±7.32 (2.75-35.2) years] patients were evaluated. The ratios of patients with endocrine dysfunction were 27.2 % and 90.9%, respectively, when we exclude or include those with osteoporosis/osteopenia or growth failure other than growth hormone deficiency. Of all patients, 27 (61.3%) had osteoporosis, 17 (38.6%) had growth retardation, 11 (25%) had osteopenia, 6 (13.6%) had hypogonadism, 3 (6.8%) had hypothyroidism, 2 (4.5%) had hypoparathyroidism, 1 (2.3) had growth hormone deficiency, and 1 (2.3) had type 1 diabetes mellitus. Mean ferritin levels and monthly transfusion numbers were 1976.15±1494.75 ng/ml and 1.46±0.34, respectively. There were no significant association between ferritin levels, monthly transfusion needs, and endocrine dysfunctions studied. Endocrine dysfunctions did not differ significantly amongst those having different chelating agents. The ratio of patients with growth retardations in 10 to 19-age-group was significantly higher than those in 0 to 9-age-group (30.6% vs 8.3%; p=0.049). Conclusion: Patients with thalassemia major are under increased risk of various endocrine dysfunction. Bone health is significantly compromised. Those younger than 10 years should be closely followed for especially growth retardation and osteoporosis/osteopenia and those who are 10 years of age or older should be followed for all endocrine pathologies, especially for hypogonadism, growth retardation, and osteoporosis. (Journal of Current Pediatrics 2008; 6: 58-65)http://www.guncelpediatri.com/yazilar.asp?yaziid=860&sayiid=Thalassemia majorendocrinologic complicationschildhoodferritinblood transfusionf
spellingShingle Birol Baytan
Halil Sağlam
Şahin Erdöl
Aysun Nedime Beyazıt
Taner Özgür
Adalet Meral Güneş
Ünsal Günay
Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
Güncel Pediatri
Thalassemia major
endocrinologic complications
childhood
ferritin
blood transfusionf
title Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
title_full Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
title_fullStr Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
title_short Evaluation of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Thalassemia Major
title_sort evaluation of endocrine complications in patients with thalassemia major
topic Thalassemia major
endocrinologic complications
childhood
ferritin
blood transfusionf
url http://www.guncelpediatri.com/yazilar.asp?yaziid=860&sayiid=
work_keys_str_mv AT birolbaytan evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT halilsaglam evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT sahinerdol evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT aysunnedimebeyazıt evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT tanerozgur evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT adaletmeralgunes evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor
AT unsalgunay evaluationofendocrinecomplicationsinpatientswiththalassemiamajor