The Association between Serum Ferritin Levels and ۲۵(OH)D Levels in Adult Patients with Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia

Deficiency and insufficiency of ۲۵(OH)D in thalassemia patients are still high even in countries with abundant sun exposure or with vitamin D supplementation. Long term routine blood transfusions in thalassemia patients cause iron overload which is characterized by increase in serum ferritin levels. Liver damage due to iron overload is thought to disrupt synthesis of ۲۵(OH)D in the liver. This study aimed to determine the association between serum ferritin levels and ۲۵(OH)D levels in adult patients with transfusion dependent thalassemia. This was a cross-sectional observational analytic study. The blood sample were collected from adult patients with transfusion dependent thalassemia to measure the levels of serum ferritin using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method and ۲۵(OH)D levels using the chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) method. There were ۴۵ subjects, ۲۴ males and ۲۱ females with median age of ۲۳ years; duration of transfusions was ۱۶.۳ ± ۶.۲ years. ۲۳ subjects used deferasirox and ۲۲ subjects used deferiprone iron chelator. The median of serum ferritin levels was ۴,۴۶۷ ng/mL and the mean of ۲۵(OH)D levels was ۱۲.۶۹ ± ۴.۸۴ ng/mL. There was significantly negative association between serum ferritin levels and ۲۵(OH)D levels (r = - ۰.۴۱, p = ۰.۰۰۳). In this study, significantly negative association was found between serum ferritin levels and ۲۵(OH)D levels. High serum ferritin levels may decrease ۲۵(OH)D levels in adult patients with transfusion dependent thalassemia.

Keywords:

Ferritin , ۲۵(OH)D , Transfusion dependent thalassemia