اختلالات غدد درون ريز در مبتلايان به تالاسمي ماژور

Endocrine disorders in patients with thalassemia major

Introduction: Thalassemia major, as hemolytic disorder leads to increased iron load In patients and despite current treatment with deferouxamine the precipitation of Iron In different endocrine systems results in disturbances in theses endocrine systems. In this study we evaluated endocrine disorders in patients with thalassemia major. Materials and Methods: Subjects were patients with thalassemia major who referred to the endocrinology clinic. All of them underwent thyroid function tests and biochemistry assays. Growth hormone stimulation with levodopa, was done if indicated. FSH and LH, stradiol and testosterone were requested for adolescents. Results: 44 patients 8.5 to 25 years old, underwent all tests. 40.9% of them were female. 11.3% of them had diabetes, and 88% of adolescents had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. 15.9% had hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. None of them had thyroid disorders. Height of 90.9% of patients was under the fifth percentile. Only 22.2% had abnormal response to stimulation test with levodopa. 22.7% of patients, had normal results for endocrine tests. Conclusion: Our result showed that despite deferoxamine treatment in our patients, thalassemia major endocrine disorders were common. Hence, more effective treatment with deferoxamine appropriate dose and time of initiation is recommended.