Haleema Sajid, Afshan Zareen Bilal, Kiran Namoos, Amna Iqtidar, Imran Ali Zaidi, Anila Asghar.
Study of Comparison of Serum Interleukin-1 Beta Levels in Β Thalassemia Major patients with Normal and Impaired Glucose Tolerance.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;13(2):309-13.

Background: Beta-Thalassaemia major (βTM) is hemolytic congenital disorder leading to hypochromic microcytic anemia. Due to repeated blood transfusion, patients with βTM develop iron overload and deposition in various body organs which may result in destruction of pancreatic β cells initiating oxidative stress and hypoinsulinemia and eventually result in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Immune-competent cells like macrophages release pro- inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta which may be an important clinical indicator of ongoing pancreatic β cell destruction in pre-diabetes phase . Aim : To evaluate and compare serum interleukin-1β levels in Beta-Thalassemia major children having normal and impaired glucose tolerance . Methods: 90 patients of Beta thalassemia major aged > 10 years belonging to both genders were taken for study purpose. These patients were divided into 2 study groups. Group A included 45 patients having normal fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance. Group B included 45 patients with impaired fasting blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance. The study data was then analyzed by SPSS version 21 . Results: The mean age was 11.56 +/-1.06 years and 11.56 +/-1.06 years in group A and B respectivley. Mean BMI was 22.41 +/-1.76 Kg/m 2 and 22.21 +/-2.15 Kg/m 2 in group A and B respectively. With regards to gender distribution, group A comprised of 29 (64.5 %) males and 16 (35.5%) females, whereas in group B, there were 27(60%) males and 18(40%) females. Mean serum ferritin levels were 4428.04 +/-1776.89 ng/ml and 5246.09 +/-3073.06 ng/ml in group A and B respectively. Mean fasting blood sugar was 95.2 +/-9.1 mg/dl and 119.13 +/-3.92 mg/dl in group A and B respectively. Mean oral glucose tolerance was 128.2 +/- 6.94 mg/dl and 166.51 +/-12.56 mg/dl in group A and B respectively. Mean serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels were 2.91 +/-1.30 and 5.24 +/-2.16 pg/ml in group A and B respectively . Conclusion: Higher interleukin-1 beta levels contribute significantly to development and progression of impaired glucose tolerance in beta thalassemia major patients and hence pose a threat for Type 1 diabetes mellitus progress in these patients.

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