ESPE Abstracts

Blood transfusion and iron chelation are conventional treatments for β-thalassemia (BTM). However, iron overload in parenchymal organs and endocrine glands still occurs in a good number of these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of iron-related complications (short stature, growth retardation, and growth hormone deficiency) in BTM.

Methods: We performed an electronic search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Sciences to evaluate the prevalence of growth hormone impairment and Endocrinopathies in BTM in the Mediterranean and Middle-east countries in the past 20 years.

Results: Fourteen studies were included from 14 Mediterranean and Middle East countries after 2000. The total number of patients was 4477. The overall mean age of the participants was about 16.5 years. The pooled prevalence of short stature (ST) was 35.9 %. The pooled prevalence of hypogonadism/delayed puberty was 45.6%, hypothyroidism was 10.3%, diabetes and dysglycemia was 16.3% and hypoparathyroidism was 7.9%.

Conclusion: Our study revealed that near a third of thalassemia patients suffer from growth impairments. Hypogonadism is still the most common endocrinopathy occurring in these patients (45.6%). Dysglycemia occurs after 10 years of age in 16.3% of these patients. Regular evaluation of growth and close monitoring of endocrine function for early and timely management of these abnormalities besides regular chelation therapy could significantly reduce these abnormalities.