Endocrine complications in thalassemic children at a tertiary childcare hospital of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: To find out the frequency of endocrine complications in thalassemic children at a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, “The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health (CHICH), Multan,”. Period: 10-08-2018 to 09-05-2019. Material & Methods: A total of 160 children of both gender and aged 2 – 14 years having thalassemia major were enrolled from thalassemia center, CHICH Multan. Venous blood sample (5 ml) was taken and dispatched to central institutional laboratory for performing specific investigations. Results: Majority of the patients, 101 (63.1 %) were male. Overall, mean age was 6.79+2.10 years. Mean no. of transfusions in our study cases was 3.16+1.14 while 128 (80.0%) had to undergo blood transfusion more than twice per month. Parental consanguinity was positive in 122 (76.2%). Mean Fasting blood sugar level was 117.28+32.43 mg/dl and diabetes was noted in 70 (43.8%). Mean FT4 was 0.99+0.12 ng/dl and hypothyroidism was noted in 32 (20.0%). Endocrine complications were noted in 102 (36.8%) cases. Conclusion: Very high frequency of endocrine complications was seen among children having thalassemia. Endocrine complications were significantly associated with age, residential status, number of blood transfusions per month, disease duration and parental consanguinity.