STATUS OF THYROID FUNCTION AND SERUM FERRITIN IN CHILDREN WITH TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT AND NON-TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT THALASSEMIA: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM EASTERN INDIA

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to nd the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and nontransfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) children, and to nd the correlation between serum ferritin levels with thyroid functions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Pediatrics and Thalassemia clinic of a tertiary care teaching institute in Kolkata, India. A total of 63 children were included in our study who satised the clinical and diagnostic criteria of TDT and NTDT and fullled the inclusion-exclusion criteria. Laboratory parameters studied were hemoglobin (Hb) %, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), and serum ferritin. Results: In our study, 32 (50.8%) were of TDT, and 31(49.2%) were NTDT. E-β thalassemia were detected in 60.3% (n=38) of thalassemic children, 81.58% (n=31) of them behaved as NTDTand 18.42% (n=7) as TDT. Thyroid dysfunction were detected in 28.57% (n=18) of total cases. Most of these, 25.40% (n=16) as subclinical hypothyroidism, and 3.17% (n=2) as overt hypothyroidism. Among TDT patients with mean age of 81.00 (± 33.0) months had subclinical thyroid dysfunction in 37.5% (n=12) . Among NTDTs with mean age of 85.62 (± 27.75) months had subclinical hypothyroidism in 12.9% (n=4). Overt hypothyroidism were detected in 1 (one) of each TDT and NTDT. Signicant correlation with the serum ferritin level and thyroid dysfunction could not be established. Conclusion: Thalassemic children should undergo screening of thyroid functions to detect subclinical hypothyroidism from school going age in addition to routine monitoring of serum ferritin level.