Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Iraqi Patients with β-Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive inherited blood disorder due to hemoglobin-production abnormalities. Over the past three decades, hyper-transfusion therapy in these patients has shown significant increase in life expectancy and quality of life. unfortunately, this type of therapy also increased the frequency of complications due to iron overload. The study aims to identify the Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with thalassemia, and to assess transfusion related complication among them. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Thalassemia Center in Al-Najaf province in Iraq, during the period from the 1st of April to the 31st of August 2018. Data were collected through direct interview with patients/parents using a specially designed questionnaire form. A total of 175 transfusion dependent thalassemia major patients were included, the mean age 10. 5 years ranging from 5 m to 34years. Patients under 10 years of age represented the highest rate with Male: Female ratio 1.2:1. 60% were from rural area with high percentage of parental consanguinity (70%). The study documented the relationship between iron over load and appearance of complications. Development of preventive measures as genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, pre-marital screening are the best ways to decrease the incidence of disease, in addition to regular blood transfusion with optimum chelation therapy.