Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Blood Transfusion Dependent Thalassemic Patients

ackground Beta thalassemia major is a common clinical problem we are facing it in our country, present transfusion protocols have increased the life expectancy of patient with beta thalassemia major, but iron overload is a major clinical complication of the treatment. Aim of the Study This study is to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and association of some factors with impaired glucose tolerance test in transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major. Patients and Methods A case control study was done on a randomized group of patient with beta thalassemia major diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis registered in thalassemia center in ALZahraa Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children in AL- Najaf AL- Ashraf, during a period from 15 of January 2016 to 1st of May 2016. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total number of 50 thalassemic patients included in this study all of them on blood transfusion as part of their treatment. And 50 patient control are healthy children chosen from visits to schools, with same age. Consent was obtained from the patients first-degree relatives (mother or father) these patients were also informed that the results of the study would be provided to them as free useful laboratory tests. The patients were diagnosed with beta thalassemia major as recorded in their files ( by Hemoglobin electrophoresis). The patients name, age, gender, time of first blood transfusion, number of blood transfusion, time of starting of chelation treatment, period of chelation therapy, history of previous splenectomy, hepatitis state, and family history of diabetes mellitus was taken and relevant systemic examination was done. Patient suffering from any acute illness, liver disease and previously diagnosed case of diabetes mellitus, were excluded, we define impaired Oral glucose tolerance according to World Health Organization. Results There was Statistically significant association of Diabetes and glucose intolerance in thalasemic children ( p-valueless than0.001), and significant association with higher age ( p-valueless than0.001) and with low Hemoglobin (p-valueless than0.001) with prevalence of Diabetes and glucose intolerance in thalassemic children. Conclusion The study showed increasing incidence of Diabetes mellitus and glucose intolerance in thalassemia children and this probability increases with low Hemoglobin and higher age.