Complications Of Thalassemia Research Articles

Ulcers of the Leg in Thalassemia

Four patients had thalassemia and leg ulcers. In three patients the hematologic diagnosis of thalassemia had not been previously made; the presenting symptom was the leg ulcer. The diagnosis of thalassemia should be considered in patients who have unexplained chronic leg ulcers; the incidence of this complication of thalassemia may be higher than previously reported.

Megaloblastic anemia complicating thalassemia major.

Megaloblastic anemia as a complication of thalassemia is rare. The first case, reported in 1949 by Crosby and Sacks,1was of the coincidental finding of addisonian pernicious anemia occurring in an Italian with Mediterranean anemia. Since then 15 additional cases of folic acid or vitamin-B12-deficient megaloblastic anemia complicating thalassemia have been reported.2-6Of these 6 cases have been associated with a nutritional deficiency of one or both of these vitamins.5One case was associated with pregnancy.6Of the remaining 8 cases 6 had no additional cause for folic acid deficiency other than the increased need caused by the increased erythropoiesis that accompanies thalassemia. In the other 2 cases there was a suggestion of an absorption defect for folic acid in addition to their increased requirement for the vitamin.3,4Most of these cases were adults, but 2 of them occurred in children of 11½