EVALUATION OF RENAL FUNCTIONS IN PEDIATRIC β-THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH IRON STORES

SHARMA S.¹, DABLA P.K.², GUPTA R.^3
1Department of Biochemistrya, CNBC Hospital, Associated to Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi-110031, India.
²Department of Biochemistry, CNBC Hospital, Associated to Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi-110031, India.
³Department of Pathology, CNBC Hospital, Associated to Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi-110031, India.

Received : 07-11-2013     Accepted : 09-12-2013     Published : 30-12-2013
Volume : 1     Issue : 2       Pages : 27 - 30
World Res J Crit Care 1.2 (2013):27-30

Background and Objectives: β- thalassemia major is a common heterogenous genetic disorder characterized by severely impaired β -globulin synthesis. Transfusion related iron overload is the primary therapeutic complication in β-thalassemia major which leads to peroxidative stress and adversely affects the functioning of multiple organs. However there is paucity of data concerning assessment of renal functions in Indian pediatric patients. The present case-control study was therefore aimed to investigate the kidney function tests in β- thalassemia major patients and to correlate with levels of ferritin. Materials and Methods: 66 patients (aged 1-12 years) with β -thalassemia major that undergo periodical blood transfusion at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya Hospital, New Delhi were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination and haematological and haemoglobin electrophoresis profile. 38 school children (aged 2-12 years) with no history of infection or haematological disease were taken as controls. Serum levels of ferritin, iron, urea, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, albumin and electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride were estimated in all children. Results: Significant differences (p< 0.05) appeared between the patients and control groups for all the measured physiological variables (serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium) except for albumin and chloride. A significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin and calcium and phosphorus (p< 0.0001). Conclusion: Our findings support the existence of glomerular and tubular dysfunction in β-thalassemia patients which can be attributed to iron overload, chronic anaemia or toxicity due to iron chelation therapy.