Abdulzahra Mohammed Saied, Al-Hakeim Hussein Kadhem, Ridha Mahdi Muhammed
Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Kufa University, Iraq.
Asian J Transfus Sci. 2011 Jul;5(2):127-31. doi: 10.4103/0973-6247.83236.
Iron overload is an important issue in the state of thalassemic patients due to the harmful effect of high concentration of iron deposited in different tissues in human body including endocrine glands. In the present work, an attempt is carried out to estimate the effect of iron overload in thalassemic patients on the function of endocrine glands through the estimation of their ability to secrete adequate amounts of certain hormones.
Seventy eight male children with beta-thalassemia, in the age-group of 4-11 years, were enrolled for this research. These children were being treated with frequent transfusions and long-term iron chelation therapy. Thirty age and sex matched children without thalassemia constituted the control group. Ferritin and different hormones were estimated by ELISA technique.
The results showed a mild reduction in the function of endocrine glands through the decrease in the level of some hormones. These changes due mainly to the hypoxia and precipitation of iron in certain glands and overlapping with the synthesis or secretion of the hormones.
There is a different hormonal disturbances in beta thalassemia patients. Reduction of total body iron store is an important goal of the treatment of thalassemia and measuring the hormones concentration is necessary for the follow up of the thalassemic patients especially during puberty.
由于高浓度铁沉积于人体包括内分泌腺在内的不同组织中会产生有害影响，铁过载是地中海贫血患者面临的一个重要问题。在本研究中，通过评估内分泌腺分泌适量特定激素的能力，尝试估计地中海贫血患者铁过载对内分泌腺功能的影响。
本研究纳入了78名4至11岁的男性β地中海贫血患儿。这些患儿接受频繁输血和长期铁螯合治疗。30名年龄和性别匹配的非地中海贫血儿童组成对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）技术测定铁蛋白和不同激素水平。
结果显示，某些激素水平降低，内分泌腺功能出现轻度减退。这些变化主要归因于特定腺体中的缺氧和铁沉淀，且与激素的合成或分泌相互影响。
β地中海贫血患者存在不同的激素紊乱情况。减少体内铁储存是地中海贫血治疗的一个重要目标，尤其是在青春期，测量激素浓度对于地中海贫血患者的随访是必要的。
