Physical growth in children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia

• DOI: 10.2147/phmt.s15305
• Publication Date: 2011-02-09T08:41:59Z
• Authors: Harish Pemde; Jagdish Chandra; Varinder Singh; Divya Gupta; Rajni Sharma; A K Dutta
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Pediatric Health, Medicine and Therapeutics; 3. Good health

Objective: To describe physical growth and related factors in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the records patients registered at being followed up by Thalassemia Day Care Center (TDCC) Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India. Clinical laboratory parameters were recorded on spreadsheet for analysis. included weight, height, sexual maturity ratings, general systemic examination. Laboratory pretransfusion hemoglobin (Hb), periodic serum ferritin, tests viral markers human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hepatitis B C. Z-scores body mass index (BMI) calculated using World Health Organization reference data. Statistical was carried out Microsoft Excel ® Stata software. Results: Out 214 TDCC since 2001, 154 this study. The mean age 9.19 years (range 0.5–20 years). Pretransfusion Hb well maintained (mean 9.21 g/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.06–9.36), but ferritin levels approximately three times (3112 ng/mL) desired value despite deferiprone (72%) or deferasirox (25%). One-third (33.11%) had short stature, 13% thin, 10.82% very thin (BMI z-score <-3). No patient overweight obese. Linear regression coefficient showed that every 1-year increase age, increased 186.21 pg/mL (95% CI: 143.31–228.27). Height z-scores significant correlation with levels, whereas not statistically. Mean significantly higher stature than normal height. Regression an 3571 units associated decrease one point height z-scores. One-fifth (19.40%) adolescent delayed puberty. Conclusion: Approximately one-third major stature. In group correlated status iron overload. Keywords: thalassemia, growth, index,