ASSESSMENT OF STATUS OF THYROID FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS OF β THALASSEMIA MAJOR, REPORTING TO OPD OF MILITARY HOSPITAL, RAWALPINDI

Thyroid Function Assessment With Beta-Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Objective: To determine the status of thyroid functions in patients of β Thalassemia Major, reporting to OPD of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric Outpatients Department of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st Jan to 30th Jun 2012.
Material and Methods: After taking informed consent from the parents of all the children fulfilling the inclusion criteria, detailed history was taken and blood samples were drawn by strict aseptic means. Samples taken from these patients included complete blood and thyroid profile (serum thyroxine T4, triiodothyronine T3 and thyroid stimulating hormone TSH). These blood samples were labeled and sent to Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi for analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Primary hypothyroidism was defined by TSH levels >4IU/ml. Statistical analysis was done at the end of study using SPSS version 10. Significance for association was calculated using student t-test.
Results: Sixty patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria out of these sixty four patients lost the follow up while 56 patients completed the study. Out of 56 patients, 21 (37.5%) had biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism. Mean Ferritin level was 3924 ± 1247ng/ml in hypothyroid and 3136 ± 1387ng/ml in euthyroid patients indicating a significant difference in mean serum ferritin levels between hypothyroid patients and others.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates hypothyroidism in a significant number of hyper transfused β- thalassemic patients, emphasizing the importance of monitoring thyroid functions in thalassemic patients, particularly in those receiving suboptimal chelation.