The Effect of Serum Ferritin Level on Gonadal, Prolactin, Thyroid Hormones, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in Adult Males with Sickle Cell Anemia

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy resulting in sickling of erythrocytes that cause micro-vascular obstruction leading to acute complications and chronic organ damage. Adults with SCA have endocrine complications and metabolic alterations. The aim of this study was to assess the association between gonadal and thyroid hormones with iron indices and to explore the potential association between serum ferritin levels and sex hormones in adult males with sickle cell disease in New Prince Saud Bin Jalawy Hospital (NPSBJH) in Hofuf city (Eastern region of Saudi Arabia) where there are many patients with SCA. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the Haematology Clinic at NPSBJH in 2018. A total of eighty (80) male patients with sickle cell anaemia were included in this study and were divided into two groups according to serum ferritin level. Group I (G-I): Included 40 male patients with high serum ferritin level and group II (G-II): included 40 male patients with normal serum ferritin level. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in height/cm between GI and Gil, P value= 0.006. Serum ferritin was significantly higher in GI (P value= 0.000), and serum TIBC was significantly higher in G-II. (P value= 0.022). Testosterone level was significantly higher in G-II (P value= 0.018). Luteinizing hormone (LH) was significantly higher in group I (P-value 0.019). There was a significant relation between serum ferritin level in G-I and the following: serum iron, TIBC, serum testosterone, LH, prolactin, free T3 and free T4. CONCLUSION: Adult males with SCD with high serum ferritin level were shorter than adult males with SCD who had normal serum ferritin level and had a significant lower level of serum testosterone and significant high level of LH and this was most likely due to endocrine dysfunction secondary to high ferritin level and iron overload.