Prevalence of Oral Manifestation of Thalassemic Patients in Sulaymaniyah Thalassemia Center

Abstract

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin formation, leading to chronic anemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate orofacial complications in thalassemia patients and to detect the blood profile among these patients. Patients and method included a total of 100 th alassemic patients who were enrolled in this study. Oral examination and dental status of each patient was carried out using OHI-simplified. In addition, each patient took a blood investigation (Hb, RBC, MCV, RDW, and ferritin). Result of this study showed that the majority of the patients were female (68%) of which 50 of them had major Thalassemia, with the most frequent age range was between 21-39 years. Patients had statistically higher frequencies of all oral manifestations (p < 0.001 for all). Of which pale mucosa accounted for most frequency, 79%, followed by halitosis 39%, ulceration, brown pigmentation 33%, atrophic glossitis and actinic cheilitis 11%, hypomineralisation 8%, candidiasis and burning sensation 7%, geographic tongue and fissured tongue 6%, angular cheilitis 5%. Besides poor oral hygiene measure was 42%. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between most oral manifestations and blood transfusion. As a conclusion, thalassemia disease is associated with orofacial manifestation, which can adversely affect the oral health status of the patient. Therefore, dentists should understand the complications and management of the disease.