Assessment of hypothyroidism among adult patients suffering from beta thalassemia major

Abstract

Background: Although patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) are properly treated with blood transfusions accompanied with iron chelation therapy, they experience serious complications such as hypothyroidism. Aim: This work aims to assess hypothyroidism among adult patients with BTM and to find out its association with various parameters such as age, BMI, sex, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin levels. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 adult patients with BTM (males 115 and females 85; mean age 24.684 ± 5.30761 years; range, 18e43 years old). Statistical data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software package, version 26.0. Results: The overall frequency of hypothyroidism was 9.5%. The maximum frequency was 3.5% within the age group 27eless than 32 years, with serum ferritin level in the range of 2501e3500 ng/ml. Six (3%) of the patients had overt hypothyroidism, and 13 (6.5%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism; normal values of thyroid hormone were found in 181 (90.5%) patients. No central hypothyroidism was found. Conclusion: The most common subclass of thyroid dysfunction was subclinical hypothyroidism, which was more prevalent than overt hypothyroidism. Early assessment of hypothyroidism should be followed among adult patients with BTM, especially in the age group 27eless than 32 years.