Hepatobiliary Manifestations in Thalassemia Patients: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

Thalassemia is one of the most common inherited blood disorders worldwide. This defect causes a disproportionate ratio of α- and β-globin chains resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis leading to increased iron absorption. In patients where the imbalance between α and β globin chains is great they are dependent on blood transfusions for survival. This results in transfusional iron overload but also comes with additional risks such as transfusion-transmissible viral infections like hepatitis B and C. This can lead to various complications like liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which are important causes with morbidity and mortality in patients of thalassemia today. These hepatobiliary manifestations and their management are briefly discussed in this review. Understanding hepatobiliary complications in thalassemia is vital for optimizing patient care.