Iraqi Journal of Hematology (Jan 2015)
Microalbuminuria in hemoglobinopathy patients who are taking Deferasirox
Abstract
Background: Chelation therapy which is needed to prevent or reverse iron overload may also affect renal function in patients with hemoglobinopathy. The early indicator as well as predictor of nephropathy and glomerular damage among patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia is microalbuminuria (MA). Objective: This study was aimed to estimate the frequency of MA in patients with thalassemia and sickle cell syndromes who were taking deferasirox and to find if any relationship between the level of MA and other parameters like age, gender, type of hemoglobinopathy, serum creatinine and ferritin levels. Materials and methods: This is a clinical study in hemoglobinopathy patients that taking deferasirox (oral iron chelator) in Center For Hereditary Blood Diseases (HBDC) in Basrah during the period between April 2013 and February 2014. The informations were took from patients by a questionnaire form and urine samples were collected from each patient for measurement of microalbuminuria by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA) and blood samples for biochemical tests including serum creatinine and ferritin. Results: In this study, 100 patients were 38 males and 62 females with mean of age was 25.74±10.59 years. MA detected in 31 patients and it was more among males (36.8%, 37.0 mg/ml) as compared to (27.4%, 26.0 mg/ml) of female and more in sickle cell syndrome (35%, 35.0 mg/ml) as compared to (25%, 24.0 mg/ml) of thalassemia patients and more in patients with age <30 years (35.5%, 35.5 mg/ml) as compared to patients with age ≥ 30 years (16.7%, 22.0 mg/ml). There was no significant relationship between MA and serum creatinin or serum ferritin levels but significant relationship was found between MA level and age. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study might reflect the relatively low prevalence rate of MA among non- protienuria, deferasirox-taking patients with hemoglobinopathies in Basrah. Microalbuminuria affected by many factors including age, gender, diagnosis and other factors.
