Correlation of Serum Ferritin Level and Number of Blood Transfusion in Thalassemic Patients

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Thalassemia is a prevalent hereditary disorder of hemoglobin causing chronic anemia that necessitates regular blood transfusions. Unfortunately, these treatments often cause iron overload. In order to evaluate the accumulation of iron and adjust chelation therapy, it is necessary to monitor serum ferritin. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between serum ferritin levels, transfusion frequency, and nutritional status of thalassemic children. Methods & Materials: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chittagong, over a period of six months from December 2013 to May 2014. The study population included 50 patients admitted to the Pediatrics Wards. Result: The study result indicated that patients who received transfusions more frequently recorded higher serum ferritin levels. The patients who were transfused at intervals of less than 1 month had the highest mean ferritin (4192.45 ng/mL), whereas those with intervals of over 2 months had the lowest mean ferritin (408.70 ng/mL), although most patients historically had transfusions every 1, 2 months. Serum ferritin levels did not show any significant correlation with weight for height, height for age, or weight for age, thus iron overload in this case was more linked to stunting and chronic malnutrition than to wasting. Almost half of the patients (46%) were severely stunted and 40% moderately stunted, with mean ferritin levels of 2542.13 ng/mL and 2689 ng/mL, respectively. On the other hand, the majority (88%) were nonwasted. Conclusion: The elderly patients received more blood transfusions and had higher levels of serum ferritin, with most of them having levels above 1000 ng/mL, which is an indication of severe iron overload. Higher levels of ferritin were strongly associated with stunting and chronic malnutrition, while wasting was uncommon.