Comparison of pulmonary functions of thalassemic and of healthy children

  • Mardjanis Said
  • Sudigdo Sastroasmoro
  • Djajadiman Gatot
  • Bambang Supriyatno
  • Yovita Ananta
Keywords: pulmonary function, thalassemia, spirometry, serum ferritin level, restrictive lung dysfunction

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

Author Biographies

Mardjanis Said
Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Sudigdo Sastroasmoro
Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Djajadiman Gatot
Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Bambang Supriyatno
Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Yovita Ananta
Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of
Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

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Published
2016-10-10
How to Cite
1.
Said M, Sastroasmoro S, Gatot D, Supriyatno B, Ananta Y. Comparison of pulmonary functions of thalassemic and of healthy children. PI [Internet]. 10Oct.2016 [cited 29Mar.2024];45(1):1-. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/789
Section
Articles
Received 2016-10-05
Accepted 2016-10-05
Published 2016-10-10