Hematological and biochemical status of Beta-thalassemia major patients in Bangladesh: A comparative analysis

Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary disorders and Beta-thalassemia major is its severe form. The present study is concerned with the analysis of liver function, thyroid function and estimation of critical serum ions as well as hematological characteristics in beta-thalassemia patients and controls. Subjects and Methods: The study included 54 patients with beta-thalassemia major and 54 healthy individuals matched by sex and age. The activity of Alanine transaminase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) were assessed in order to evaluate the liver function. Serum content of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were also estimated. Tri iodothyronine (T3), Thyroxin (T4) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were assessed in order to evaluate the thyroid function. Hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and creatinine level were also measured. Results: Significantly, higher ALT (P< 0.001), AST (P< 0.05), ALP (P< 0.001) activities and lower creatinine (P< 0.001) level in beta-thalassemia patients were found in comparison to healthy individuals. Lower serum level of calcium (P< 0.05), magnesium (P< 0.05) and higher level of iron (P> 0.05), sodium (P> 0.05) and potassium (P > 0.05) have been found in patients in comparison to healthy individuals. Hematological parameters like Hb (P< 0.001), ferritin (P< 0.05), HCT (P< 0.001), MCV (P< 0.05) and MCH (P< 0.05) have been significantly reduced in patients except MCHC (P> 0.05). No significant difference was observed in thyroid function between patients and control group. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that beta-thalassemia patients and controls have difference in liver function, thyroid function, serum contents of ions and hematological characteristics.