BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a leading cause of morbidity in patients affected by β-thalassemia major or intermediate; we aimed to assess the association between demineralization observed in young thalassemic patients. METHODS A total of 88 patients with β-thalassemia were recruited at Microcitemia Center of Taranto Hospital under the Prevention Osteoporosis and Fractures research project from ...

AIM This study aimed to detect the most common HFE gene mutations (C282Y, H63D, and S56C) in Egyptian beta thalassemia major patients and its relation to their iron status. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study included 50 beta thalassemia major patients and 30 age and sex matched healthy persons as a control group. Serum ferritin, serum iron and TIBC level were measured. Detection of the three HFE ...

OBJECTIVE Postprandial suppression of bone resorption is considered one of the main contributors in the circadian rhythm of bone turnover markers. The aim of this study was to investigate this physiological response of bone tissue in diseases that affect bone metabolism. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this study, 118 patients (45 hypothyroid, 40 hyperthyroid, and 33 β-thalassemic patients) and 78 he...

The health background management and outcomes of 5 pregnancies in 4 women affected by Cooley Disease, from Paediatric Institute of Catania University, are described, considering the preconceptual guidances and cares for such patients. These patients were selected among a group of 100 thalassemic women divided into three subgroups, according to their first and successive menstruation characteris...

Hemoglobinopathies have a protective role in malaria that appears to be related to alterations in red blood cell (RBC) properties. Thalassemic RBCs infected with Plasmodium falciparum showed greatly reduced cytoadherence and rosetting properties as well as impaired growth and multiplication. A significant decrease in the levels of falciparum antigens associated with the membrane of infected 8-t...

BACKGROUND beta-thalassemia occurs from the imbalanced globin chain synthesis due to the absence or inadequate beta-globin chain production. The excessive unbound alpha-globin chains precipitate in erythroid precursors and mature red blood cells leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and hemolysis. DESIGN AND METHODS In vitro globin chain synthesis in reticulocytes from different types of thal...

Beta-thalassemia major (TM) remains to be one of the major health problems particularly in developing countries. Tunisia is a part of the Mediterranean countries mostly affected by this disease which is highly concentrated in small towns in families with low-income earners. The main objectives of this study are to provide a description of the demographic, clinical features and transfusion-relat...

PURPOSE To investigate the efficiency of partial radiofrequency ablation of the spleen in patients with thalassemia major and intermedia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Partial radiofrequency ablation of the spleen was performed in 19 thalassemic patients (10 females, nine males) with a mean age of 12.7 years (age range, 7-30 years). This group of patients consisted of 11 patients with thalassemia maj...