Evaluation of Thyroid Function in Thalassemic Patients Undergoing Long-term Blood Transfusion and Iron-Chelation Therapy

Abstract

Remarkable advances in blood transfusion and iron-chelation therapy have improved and prolonged the survival of patients with thalassemic syndromes. Because of this increase in mean survival, new therapeutic strategies have been designed in order to limit the most important complications involving heart, liver and endocrine tissues. Endocrine disorders are rarely reported as cause of death in thalassemics but they can worsen the quality of life of these patients. Most authors have reported high incidence of endocrine abnormalities in thalassemics and the iron overload is frequently indicated as the most important pathogenetic factor [1]. De Sanctis et al. [2], in a multicenter study, reported that endocrine abnormalities involve more than 50% of thalassemic patients. Particularly the incidence of thyroid disorders has shown a large variability, according to the findings reported in the various studies [3–5]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the thyroid function in 58 thalassemic patients in order to evaluate possible correlations with age, serum ferritin values, and liver impairment.