BETA THALASSEMIA
IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN CHILDREN WITH BLOOD TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT BETA THALASSEMIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2018.25.09.141Keywords:
Thalassemia Major, Blood Transfusion, Impaired Glucose ToleranceAbstract
Background: Inadequate Blood Transfusion is responsible for various problems
in children with Thalasseima. On the other hand, repeated transfusions are related with hazards.
About 25-50% of the children with thalassemia major have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
or diabetes. Objectives: To find out the frequency of IGT in children with blood transfusion
dependent β thalassemia. Study Design: Descriptive analytical study. Setting: Department of
Pediatrics, Shahida Islam Teaching Hospital, Lodhran. Period: 1st July 2017 to 31st December
2017. Material and Methods: Known 120 cases of beta Thalassemia major children between
3-17 years of age that were regularly transfused. Demographics, disease history and personal
information regarding all the patients were collected. Glucose tolerance test was performed
and Serum ferritin levels were measured. Results were analyzed by SPSS software version
20.0. Results: There were 78 (65.0%) children between 3-10 years and 42 (35.0%) between
11-17 years. There were 70(58.3) male and 50 (41.7%) female. Frequency of impaired glucose
tolerance was noted in 15 (12.5%). Conclusion: Frequency of IGT is high amongst children with
thalassemia major having regular blood transfusions.
