Skin, hair and nail findings in children with beta-thalassemia

Abstract

Beta thalassemia is a disease that affects many organs and leads to mortality and morbidity. We also aimed to investigate the skin findings in children with beta-thalassemia major. Between April 2016 and September 2016, cross-sectionally 24 children with beta-thalassemia who were followed-up and transfused with blood at the Thalassemia Center of Mugla Sitki Kocman University were included in the study. The dermatological examinations of the patients were performed by two dermatologists. In addition to dermatological examinations, additional diseases, iron chelator agents and other treatments, hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin levels, accompanying skin, hair and nail findings were recorded. Seventeen of the 24 beta-thalassemia patients were male (70.8%), seven were female (29.2%) evaluated in our study. When we assessed the skin, hair and nail findings of patients; 62.5% of the patients had xerosis, 54.2% had pigmentation disorders, 33.3% had nevi, 33.3% had splenectomy scar, 25% had dermatoses, 16.7% nail involvement, 16.7% had pruritus, tinea versicolor in 8.3% and other skin findings in 37.5%. As a result, xerosis was detected as the most common skin finding in our study. The second most common disorders were pigmentation diseases. Ferritin levels were found to be significantly increased in patients with impaired pigmentation. Patients with thalassemia disease should be followed for xerosis and pigmentation diseases. Moisturizing creams and sunscreens should be recommended to patients by hematology and dermatology doctors. Our study is limited with few cases, and multi-centered studies are needed in the future.