Lipid Profile in Jordanian Children with ß-thalassemia Major

The aim of the present study was to investigate the lipid pattern in Jordanian children with Beta-thalassemia major (ß-TM). Twenty six transfusion dependent ß-TM patients, 14 males and 12 females, (mean age 9 ± 5 years) that undergo periodical blood transfusion and desferioxame as a chelating agent, were studied. Twenty controls of matched age and gender were also included in the study. ß-thalassemia major patients showed significantly lower total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol when compared with control. Serum triglycerides levels of TM patients were found to be significantly higher than levels in control subjects. Our results revealed that lipid profile changed in patients with major ß-TM. Many factors such as iron overload, liver injury, hormonal disturbances and aging might cause these changes.