Comparative Study of Radiographic and Laboratory Findings Between Beta Thalassemia Major and Beta Thalassemia Intermedia Patients with and Without Treatment by Hydroxyurea

Overview

Journal Iran Red Crescent Med J

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2015 Apr 4

PMID 25838937

Citations 2

Authors

Amin Abolhasani Foroughi

Hosein Ghaffari

Sezaneh Haghpanah

Masoume Nazeri

Roghieh Ghaffari

Marzieh Bardestani

Mehran Karimi

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: In patients with thalassemia, chronic anemia causes bone marrow expansion and consequently skeletal manifestation in spine, skull, face and rib bones.

Objectives: We aimed to compare chest radiographic findings and facial bone deformity in patients with thalassemia major (TM) and intermedia.

Patients And Methods: In this cross sectional study, 86 consecutive thalassemia patients referring to the Thalassemia clinic in Shiraz, Southern Iran were evaluated during 2012. Patients were divided into three groups including TM and thalassemia intermedia (TI) with and without taking hydroxyurea (HU). Findings ofchest radiography (trabeculation, rib widening and paraspinal masses) as well as facial bone deformity were evaluated by an expert radiologist. Besides, laboratory findings were measured regarding hemoglobin, ferritin, NRBC and platelet count.

Results: All radiologic findings were significantly higher in patients with TI compared to TM (P< 0.05). In patients with TI, only trabeculation was observed with a higher frequency in patients with HU compared to those without HU (68% vs. 27.3%, P= 0.008). In the regression model, from all variables evaluated, only NRBC showed a significant correlation with trabeculation (Exp B = 1.014, CI: 1.004-1.025, P = 0.008) and age showed a significant correlation with paravertebral mass (Exp B = 1.147, CI: 1.03-1.27, P = 0.013).

Conclusions: In patients with TM, bone widening, trabeculation, paraspinal masses and facial bone deformity were lower than patients with TI, whichcan be related to effectiveness of therapy with blood transfusion irrespective of its adverse effects in TM patients.

Citing Articles

Complications of patients with thalassemia major and intermedia in a selected Iranian population.

Azizi V, Abesi F, Tamaddoni A, Khafri S Caspian J Intern Med. 2022; 13(4):765-771.

PMID: 36420324 PMC: 9659828. DOI: 10.22088/cjim.13.4.756.

Relationship between Serum Ferritin and Outcomes in β-Thalassemia: A Systematic Literature Review.

Shah F, Huey K, Deshpande S, Turner M, Chitnis M, Schiller E J Clin Med. 2022; 11(15).

PMID: 35956067 PMC: 9369259. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154448.

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