Hypoolcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to iron over-load in homozygous p-thalassemia patients in Mosul city

Abstract

This study was conducted on 105 patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia dependent blood transfusion children 62(59%) males and 43 (40.9%) females aged between 2.5-18 years were collected randomly from the thalassemic center in Ibn-Al-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Mosul City. Together with 54 healthy children have served as normal control group. The iron status in these patients was assessed. The .mean value of serum iron (SI) was (183.4 ± 44.3 pg/d1), mean of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was (239.2 ± 46.2 [tg/d1) and transferring saturation (TS) was (79.1 .± 21.4%). The mean of serum calcium was (8.55 ± 1.00 mg/dl) and the mean of serum phosphate level was (6.01 ± 1.56 mg/dl). Serum calcium and phosphorus were found to be normal in 83 cases (79.04 %), while founds low value in the serum of 22 cases (20.96 %). It is concluded that many thalassemics have impaired cardiac function, and hypocalcaemia, in these patients can precipitate or aggravate cardiac failure. Therefore, it is very. important to look for these patients, from the early second decade of life.