Growth Hormone and Some Other Parameters Estimation in Thalassemia major Patients

Abstract

This study is a cross-sectional study, included forty eight male subjects, during the period from the beginning of December 2013 to the beginning of April 2014 at Azadi teaching Hospital in Kirkuk City in Iraq. Questionnaire was administered, patients were examined, blood sample was collected and examined, data gathered and analysis (SD, T test & P value and Pearson correlation was employed for analysis of the relationship between variables). Growth hormone (GH), Serum Ferritin(SF), Hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume(PCV), also body weight &height as well as body mass index were evaluated in 33 male patients (aged 10–20 years old) with β thalassaemia & in 15 subjects at the same age and sex as a control group. This study revealed that there was highly significant decrease in all parameters in thalassemic patients (except serum ferritin was highly significant increase in patients) as compare with controls (P< 0.001). Positive correlation found between GH and both Hb and PCV, while negative correlation was found between GH and ferritin level.

Keywords

• thalassemia
• iron overload
• stunted growth
• growth hormone