Eman Khammas AlSaadi - Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Misan University, Iraq

Background: One of the most common hereditary hematological disorders is beta thalassemia major manifested by severe hemolysis and profound anemia for which the regular blood transfusions are required that leading to the iron accumulation in blood and body organs as well as increased serum ferritin. Thalassemic patient’s lipid profile levels are significantly variable in many studies.Aims: The study aimed to detect any alteration of serum lipid profiles in thalassemic major patients and to find out if they are correlated with serum ferritin and Hb concentration.Method sand patients: Sixty-two Beta thalassemia major patients were enrolled in the study, aged (۶months-۱۵ years) randomly selected (۶۵) matched control children. Obtaining serum samples for lipid profile, and ferritin estimation, as well as blood test of hemoglobin concentration was done. Statistical data analysis was performed using standard methods.Results: The most presented age was (>۵-۱۰ years.) followed by (۶mo-۵years) then (>۱۱-۱۵ years.) (۲۷, ۲۱, ۱۴) patients, respectively. Female were slightly predominant than male (۵۴.۸%), (۴۵.۲%), respectively mainly in group ۲ (۵۵.۹%), while male slightly predominates in the younger and older groups (۲۶.۵%), (۱۷.۷%), respectively. Serum ferritin levels were very high in (۹۸.۴%) of cases, mainly in group ۲ (۴۳%), then in group ۱ (۳۴%), followed by group ۳ (۲۳%). The majority of patients had normal cholesterol level (۹۵.۱۶%). Lipoprotein were Low in (۳۵.۵%) of patients mainly in group ۲ (۵۴.۵%) and normal in (۶۴.۵%) mainly equally distributed in groups, although not statistically significant, (p.value=۰.۷). Low Density Lipoprotein was normal in most patients (۹۵.۱۶%), and not significant statistically (P value=۰.۸). Triglyceride was high in most patients (۸۳.۹%), while normal in (۱۶.۱%), it was with no statistically significant (p. value=۰.۴).Conclusion: The present study concluded a positive correlation between (high Triglyceride, low, and high density Lipoprotein) and (low Hb and high ferritin levels) which may attribute to the future fatal cardiac complication.

Beta Thalassemia Major, Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), High density lipoprotein (HDL), Low density lipoprotein (LDL)