Association of Body mass index and serum ferritin level in pediatrics with Beta-thalassemia major disease

Background: Beta-thalassemia major is a type of inherited blood disease that results in variable outcomes such as severe anemia due to haemoglobin chains. Recurrent and lifelong blood transfusions as a treatment in beta-thalassemia major disease lead to iron deposition in various organs and cause the failure of multiple organs. Failure of affected organs leads to Body mass index (BMI) abnormality. This study aimed to evaluate the association between BMI and serum ferritin level as a marker for iron overload. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study designed and conducted with total number of 740 paediatrics, with mean age about 14.2±8.7 years old and with beta-thalassemia major requiring recurrent blood transfusion. Patient information, including demographics, serum ferritin level and percentage of BMI, was recorded and analysed by SPSS 25.0 and the statistical significant level, considered as 0.05. Results: A total number of 740 paediatrics with beta-thalassemia major disease (mean age about 14.2±8.7 years) were included to study to examine the association between serum ferritin level and their BMI. The total mean serum level of ferritin calculated about 3326 ± 3859 Nanogram/mililitter (ng/ml). Totally, 447 (60.4%) case of them had BMI percentile less than 5%, 274 (37.02%), 16 (2.16%) and 3 (0.4%) had BMI percentile 5%-85%, 85%-95% and more than 95%. There was no relation between gender and serum ferritin levels. The relationship between age and BMI has been positive (P=0.002). Finally, it resulted that there was a negative relationship between the BMI percentile and mean serum ferritin levels in paediatrics with beta-thalassemia major (P=0.031). Conclusion: Frequent Blood transfusion is associated with elevated serum ferritin level in paediatrics with beta-thalassemia major disease and experiencing lower percentiles of BMI in these patients.

Hemoglobin H Disease and Beta Thalassemia Major Demonstrated Higher Leucocytic DNA Damage

Hemoglobin H disease and beta thalassemia major are the more severe forms of thalassemia with frequent blood transfusion may be required. Iron chelation therapy is usually needed with blood transfusion to avoid iron overload. Oxidative stress mediated by excess iron via Fenton reaction may contribute to cellular DNA damage. This study was to investigate whether HbH and beta thalassemia major patients were suffered from higher oxidative stress in leucocytes. Comet assay was performed to investigate the DNA damage of 40 normal subjects, 40 hemoglobin H disease patients and beta thalassemia major patients. The UV-induced DNA damages of leucocytes were measured. The comet scores calculated by visual scoring under light microscope represented DNA damage. The mean ± standard deviation comet score for normal subjects; HbH disease and beta thalassemia major were 262.9 ± 8.1, 293.9 ± 15.4 and 293.5 ± 7.2 respectively. Results showed that both HbH disease and beta thalassemia major patients had higher DNA damage in white blood cells.

Newborn Screening Practices for Beta-Thalassemia in the United States

Beta-thalassemia, a heritable condition of abnormal hemoglobin production, is not a core condition on the United States Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for state and territorial newborn screening (NBS) programs. However, screening for sickle cell disease (which is on the core RUSP) also detects reduced or absent levels of hemoglobin (Hb) A and certain other Hb variants associated with beta-thalassemia and, thus, allows for a timely referral to appropriate healthcare to minimize sequalae of the disease. The Association of Public Health Laboratories’ Hemoglobinopathy Workgroup administered a comprehensive survey of all U.S. NBS programs to assess beta-thalassemia testing methodologies, the cutoffs for defining beta-thalassemia major, and the reporting and follow-up practices. Forty-six (87%) of the programs responded. Thirty-nine of the 46 responding programs (85%) report some form of suspected beta-thalassemia; however, the screening methods, the percentage of Hb A used as a cutoff for an indication of beta-thalassemia major, and the screening follow-up vary widely. The standardization of technical and reporting procedures may improve access to specialty care prior to severe complications, increase genetic counseling, and provide data needed to better understand the public health impact and clinical outcomes of beta-thalassemia in the United States.

STUDY OF SERUM LIPID PROFILE IN BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS

Background: To study lipid profile in Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients. Methods: A cross-sectional was done on 30 diagnosed Cases of beta-thalassemia major in the age group of 1 year to 18 years receiving regular blood transfusions; not suffering from any ailment or any other disease leading to deranged lipid profile were included. Results: Lipid analyses of controls and thalassemic children. It is clear from the results that beta thalassemia major patients had significantly lower total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoprsotein cholesterol (LDL) compared with controls. Conclusion: Lipid profile in Beta thalassmia patients show significantly low levels of total cholesterol, LDLC and HDL-C. Keywords: Beta Thalassemia Major, Lipid Profile, LDL, HDL.

Evaluation of the Thyroid Status and Types of Thyroid Dysfunction in Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients More Than 9 Years of Age in Wassit, Iraq 2020

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the commonest endocrine complications that can happen in patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major (BTM) above nine years old which may pass hidden and untreated for years. Aim: To evaluate the thyroid status and types of thyroid dysfunction in Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients above 9 years of age. Method: A Cross-Sectional study was performed on sixty-six randomly selected patients above 12 years of age with BTM in Al-Kut Heriditory Blood Disease Center at Wassit province from March to August 2020. Thyroid function tests were done (TSH, T3, and T4) to detect the thyroid status and identify patients with thyroid dysfunction and determine the type of hypothyroidism (Primary, central, Subclinical). Data collected include Age, Sex, weight, height, Serum ferritin and mean hemoglobin level, Type of chelation therapy, dose, compliance, and frequency of blood transfusion, other diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, HCV, HBV, HIV, and Heart Failure were evaluated statistically. Results: In the studied patients, Thirty-one patients (46.96%) were found to have hypothyroidism;( Seven of them (10.6%) had primary hypothyroidism, Sixteen(24.2%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and eight (12.1%) had central hypothyroidism). Twenty-one (67.74 %) patients with Hypothyroidism were found to have stunted height or short stature (with significant p.value 0.03) from the 13 (41.9%) who had subclinical hypothyroidism. By Pearson correlation, increasing serum ferritin levels significantly affect decreasing thyroxin (T4) levels with inverse correlation (P value 0.0001), (r)= -0.45. Conclusion: in this study, there was a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in BTM and subclinical hypothyroidism is the most common type, which signifies the importance of regular screening and close supervision especially when high ferritin and or short stature are present.

Comprehensive Review: Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Patients with Beta Thalassemia Major (transfusion dependent thalassemia)

Abstract Introduction: Thalassemia is one of the most common hemoglobinopathies, with around 5% of world's population expected to have some degree and type of thalassemia. Beta thalassemia (BT) occurs due to a deficient production of the beta-globin chain of hemoglobin. BT is classified into minor, intermedia, and major, defined by their clinical and laboratory findings. Extramedullary hematopoiesis is one of the complications of BT, primarily seen in minor/intermedia subtypes. EMH is the production of blood cells outside the marrow as a compensatory response to longstanding hypoxia. Due to chronic transfusions, it is not expected in patients with beta thalassemia major (BTM). However, there are multiple case reports of EMH in BTM. The incidence of EMH in BTM is thought to be <1%. However, given the increasing cases, it seems that the true incidence is much higher than expected. This systematic review aims to pool the available data and provide cumulative evidence on the occurrence of EMH in BTM patients. Methods: This is a systematic review of case reports, series, and retrospective studies that presented data on the occurrence of EMH in BTM patients. Data were recorded and analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS 26. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO: CRD42021242943. Results: Data from 253 cases of EMH in BTM patients were extracted from 2 retrospective studies and 71 case reports (some of the descriptive data from case reports and most of the descriptive data from retrospective studies was missing). The mean age at presentation was 35.3 +/- 0.5 years. Males constituted 57.7% of the total population. Mean hemoglobin at presentation with EMH was 8.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dL. Lower limb weakness was the most common presenting feature (N=23). Other features included localized pain, urinary incontinence, and an incidental finding of EMH. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the most widely used diagnostic modality (N=226). However, computed tomography scans, positron emission tomography scans, tissue biopsy, myelograms, and X-rays were also used to diagnose EMH. Various treatments were reported either alone or in combination. Overall, blood transfusion was the commonest reported treatment (N=30), followed by radiotherapy (N=20), surgery (N=15), hydroxyurea (N=12), steroids (N=6), and exchange transfusion (N=2). An outcome was reported in 20% of patients, all recovered, with no reported mortality. Conclusion: EMH is considered a rare phenomenon in BTM patients. However, there are many cases reported in which EMH occurred in BTM despite chronic blood transfusions. EMH can occur in any organ system and can present with a varied clinical feature. MRI can effectively diagnose EMH, and conservative management is reported to have similar results compared to invasive treatments. More extensive studies, focusing especially on outcomes, are required to enhance the guidelines on managing EMH in patients with BTM. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.