Prevalence of endocrine complications in beta-thalassaemia major in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

To identify the prevalence of endocrine dysfunction in Iranians with beta-thalassaemia, we assessed thyroid, parathyroid, pancreatic and adrenal function in 150 beta-thalassaemic patients aged 10-22 years at the Paediatrics Unit, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Primary hypothyroidism was found in 6.0% of patients (mean age: 14.6 +/- 1.9 years), hypoparathyroidism in 7.3% (14.5 +/- 3.2 years), type 1 diabetes mellitus in 7.3% (13.9 +/- 2.8 years) and adrenal insufficiency in 1 patient. The relatively high frequency of endocrine dysfunction found in our study may be a result of poor disease control and management in early life when irreversible tissue damage occurs due to iron overload. These findings reinforce the importance of regular follow-up of patients with beta-thalassaemia major for early detection and management of associated complications.