Evaluation of thyroid hormones and ferritin level in patients with β-thalassemia

Abstract

Background and aims: Thalassemia is a condition that affects hemoglobin synthesis and is one of the most common hereditary illnesses in the world. Patients with thalassemia major require several blood transfusions. Multiple blood transfusions cause thyroid dysfunction, which leads to iron excess.

Methods: From August 2019 to January 2020, serum samples were obtained from 90 persons, 30 of whom were healthy, and 60 (46 male and 44 female) with β-thalassemia major, aged 5-20 years, who visited the thalassemia care center at Salah Aldeen General Hospital in Tikrit city.

Results: Patients had a significant increase (P≤0.01) in T4 and TSH hormones when compared to controls, whereas T3 was also significantly higher (P≤0.05) than in controls. Compared to controls, the level of ferritin had a very significant increase (P≤0.01) in all the study patients with beta-thalassemia, male and female.

Conclusions: Thyroid disorders are common in β-thalassemia patients who have been transfused multiple times.

Keywords: Ttyroxine (T4); ferritin; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); triiodothyronine (T3); β-thalassemia.

Figure 1

Thyroid hormone levels in β-thalassemia patients and controls

Figure 2

Ferritin in β-thalassemia patients and controls.

Figure 3

Correlation coefficient between serum ferritin and T3 in β-thalassemia patients.

Figure 4

Correlation coefficient between serum ferritin and T4 in β-thalassemia patients.

Figure 5

Correlation coefficient between serum ferritin and TSH in β-thalassemia patients.