Paediatrica Indonesiana (Oct 2016)
Comparison of pulmonary functions of thalassemic and of healthy children
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to compare some pulmo- nary functions of thalassemic patients and those of normal chil- dren. Factors correlated with lung dysfunction were assessed. Methods This cross-sectional study compared some pulmonary functions of thalassemic patients with those of healthy children. The study was performed in the Department of Child Health, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. Pre- and post-trans- fusion hemoglobin levels of the thalassemic subjects were deter- mined. Other data such as chelation therapy and serum ferritin levels were also obtained. Both thalassemic and control subjects underwent routine physical examinations and lung function tests using an electronic spirometer. Spirometry was repeated three times for each subject, and only the best result was recorded. Results Sixty-three thalassemic patients were enrolled, consist- ing of 32 male and 31 female subjects. Healthy subjects consisted of 31 males and 31 females. Most thalassemic patients (46/63) were found to have lung function abnormalities. This was signifi- cantly different from control subjects, of whom most (39/62) had normal lung function. Restrictive lung function abnormality was the most common (42/63) observation documented. Serum ferritin lev- els were obtained from 28 male and 29 female thalassemic sub- jects. There was no correlation between percentage from predicted forced vital capacity and serum ferritin levels, whether in male (r=0.191; P=0.967) or female (r =-0.076, P=0.695) thalassemic subjects. Conclusion Thalassemic patients have significantly lower lung function than healthy children. More thalassemic patients had lung function abnormalities compared to healthy children. Restrictive dysfunction was the most common finding in the thalassemic group. No correlation was found between lung function and serum ferritin levels
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