Endocrinopathies and its relationship with Thalassemia
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Thalassemia, Genetic disorder, Hemoglobinopathies, Vitamin D, Ferritin
Abstract
Thalassemia is a common genetic blood disorder that places a burden on patients and the healthcare system, particularly in developing countries. Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that is transmitted to an individual as a result of a gene mutation that creates the alpha or beta-globin chains. Unless the genes are defective for beta chains, it may result in betathalassemia. If both beta genes are defective, the person has significant thalassemia and extreme anemia. Thalassemia is associated with several disorders of the endocrine that include pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, gonads, parathyroid and bone. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 Thalassemia patients, and 100 healthy controls and the levels of Minerals, Hormones, Diabetic Profile and Vitamin D was assessed in both the groups. Vitamin D deficiency was the commonest endocrine complications, followed by LH/FSH deficiency, hypothyroidism (32%), diabetes mellitus (6.7%) hyperparathyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Seven out of thirty-two patients with hypothyroidism presented with subclinical hypothyroidism. In our study total, 41% of patients had Vitamin D deficiency, 13 % had vitamin D insufficiency, and 46% had sufficient levels. Diabetes Mellitus with high fasting levels was seen in 16% of patients. In our study, 10% of patients had no Endocrine Disorder. The present study suggests that early screening programs for iron overload should be implemented to prevent endocrinopathies in children and adults and supplemented with prophylactic vitamin D.
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References
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