Frequecy of hypothyroidism In multi-transfused thalassemic patients in AL- Diwanyia Maternity ??children Hospital

Abstract

Back ground: hypothyroidism in thalassemic children is not uncommon problem ? and need special attention and frequent patient monitoring.
 Objective: to establish the frequency of hypothyrodism among multitransfused
 thalassemic patients depending on clinical and laboratory investigations.
 Methods: A cross sectional study of thyroid function ,T3,T4, and TSH, was carried out in 120 transfusion-dependent thalassemia and sickle cell anemia patients attended the thalassemic Center in AL-Diwanyia Maternity and Children.Teaching Hospital .The inclusion criteria were 1(the age more than 5 years and 2)receiving frequent blood transfusions at least 6 times per year in the last three years.
 Result: eight patients have hypothyroidism and had a prevalence of (6.66%). Two patients had low T3 and T4 and elevated TSH with signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and was already treated with thyroxin ,which consistent with the diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism , and 6 patients had no signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism with normal T3 and T4 but elevated TSH and this was consistent with the diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism . No patient of these 8 have family history of hypothyroidism . All affected patients are receiving
 blood transfusions more than 20 times since the time of diagnosis and all the effected patients have suboptimal iron –chelating therapy as reflected by the high serum ferritin level ( < 1000 ).
 Conclusion: patient with transfusion dependent hemoglobinpathy need frequent monitoring of their thyroid function at least once yearly to detect early hypothyroidism and start early treatment .