European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

In India prevalence of thalassemia ranges between 3-18%, particularly in certain communities like sindhi, Lohanas, gouda, etc. Regular blood transfusion with chelation is the main treatment since most patients cannot afford bone marrow transplants. Growth failure is the major complication in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TM) children even after giving chelation.
Aim & objectives: To study anthropometric measurements in TM children.
To study the correlation of growth failure with pretransfusion hemoglobin (PTHB) and serum ferritin levels.
Material and methods: TM children on deferasirox for at least five years were included in the study. weight, height, and BMI were measured and z scores of less than 2 were taken as underweight, stunted, and thin respectively. Z- scores were correlated with pretransfusion hemoglobin and serum ferritin. children having pretransfusion hemoglobin between 9-10.5 gm/dl was taken as adequately transfused. Growth parameters were also compared between adequately and inadequately transfused children.
Results: 36(56%) were Underweight (weight z score below 2),28(43%) children had stunting (Height z score below 2) and according to BMI 24(36%) (BMI z score below 2) children were classified as thin. All the stunted children were in the 6-8 age group. correlation for PTHB with height for age z-score was positive and significant (spearman’s r=0.345, p=0.005), with weight for age z score was positive but insignificant and with BMI was negative and insignificant. Corelation of serum ferritin with height for age z score and weight for age z score was positive but insignificant and with BMI was negative and insignificant.
Conclusion: Growth failure in children with thalassemia major requiring regular blood transfusions, in first decade is possibly due to inadequate transfusion rather than inadequate chelation. It is recommended to maintain pretransfusion haemoglobin in range of 9-10.5gm/dl to reduce the severity of growth failure.