Thyroid hormone profile in beta-thalassemia major children

Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorderworldwide1. The striking increase in survival ofthese patients over the past decade has focusedattention on abnormal endocrine function, now themost prevalent iron-induced complication in olderpatients2. Trans-fusion related iron overload is theprimary therapeutic complication in thalassemiamajor. Hemosiderosis of various endocrine glandsincluding the thyroid gland has been documentedhistologically in chronically transfused patientsincluding thalassemics. Iron deposition in variousendocrinal glands is responsible for the hormonalderangements3-6. Other factors like hypoxia due topersistent anemia and perfusion defect, alsocontribute to the derangement. Hypothalamic–pituitary axis, thyroid, para-thyroid, adrenal,pancreas, gonads, all show hypoactivity. Wetherefore planned the present study with the aim toassess thyroid function in patients of β-thalassemiamajor and to evaluate its relation, if any, withserum ferritin levels.The present study