Mohsina Noor Ibrahim, Saqib H Ansari, Ibrahim Shakoor, Sajida Erum, Misbah Iqbal Hanif, Yasir Naqi, Jamal Raza, Tahir S Shamsi.
Endocrine Complications in Thalassemic Patients and Its Relation to Genotype.
Pak Paed J Jan ;41(3):125-30.

Objective: To determine the frequency of endocrine complications in thalassemic patients and their relation with genotype. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatric Hematology, National Institute of Blood Disease & Bone Marrow Transplantation from Jan 2012 to Jan 2015. Methodology: Seventy two diagnosed cases of β-thalassemia major children on the basis of Hb electrophoresis and DNA amplification by PCR including both male and female of 10-20 years were recruited in the study. Presence of endocrinopathies was evaluated using physical, biochemical and hematological parameters. Results: Short stature and delayed puberty was present in 54(75%) and 51(70.8 %) patients respectively in homozygous and heterozygous β-thalassemia. Both the complications were most frequently observed in the age group 11-15 yrs. Hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism and Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) was present in 10 (13.8%), 2 (2.7%) and 4 (5.6%) patients respectively. All four patients having IDDM belonged to age group 16-20 yrs. Complications were more common in homozygous thalassemics. Conclusion: Prevalence of endocrine complications is high in thalas-semic patients of Pakistan. Homozygous thalassemic patients need more strict monitoring for complications and chelation for serum ferritin control.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com