Some aspects of thyroid dysfunction in thalassemia major patients with severe iron overload

  • Cynthia Rindang Department of Child Health, University of Indonesia Medical School/Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta
  • Jose R. L. Batubara Department of Child Health, University of Indonesia Medical School/Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta
  • Pustika Amalia Department of Child Health, University of Indonesia Medical School/Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta
  • Hindra Satari Department of Child Health, University of Indonesia Medical School/Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14238/pi51.2.2011.66-72
Keywords: thala ssemia major, endocrine, primary hypothyroidism, iron overload, iron chelation therapy

Abstract

Background Severe iron overload due to recurrent transfusions for chronic anemia and inadequate iron chelation therapy in thalassemia major patients result in various complications, including hypothyroidism. Currently, there has been no data on the prevalence of hypothyroidism in thalassemia major patients at the Thalassemia Centers, Department of Child Health, Cipto
Mangunkusumo Hospital (DCH CMH).

Objective To study the prevalence of primary hypothyroidism in thalassemia major patients in the Thalassemia Center, DCH MCH.

Methods We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study. All thalassemia major subjects aged Oô€¬18 years with severe iron overload underwent thyroid functionexamination. Primary hypothyroidism was defined as either normal (compensated) or decreased (decompensated) free T4 (FT4) levels, along with elevated sensitive thyroidô€¬stimulatinghonnone (TSH)levels. Results 179 subjects enrolled this study Mth male: female ratio of 1: 1.6. The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism in thalassemia major
patients Mth severe iron overloadws26.8% (48/179). Of those 48,45 had compensated hypothyroidism and 3 had decompensated hypothyroidism, 25.1% and 1.7% of the total subjects, respectively. Compensated hypothyroidism was observed in 17 subjects aged ≤1O years and in 28 subjects aged> 10 years. All 3 decompensated hypothyroidism cases were> 10 years of age. No relationship was found between the occurrence of primary hypothyroidism and mean pre-tr811sfusion Hb levels (P=0.481, OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.63 to 2.68), elevated serum ferritin levels (P=0.74, OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.46 to 1.75), and compliance to iron chelation therapy (P=0.570, OR 0.76; 95% CI 035 to 1.65). Based on multivariate analysis, only age of <10 year-old (P=O.029, OR 0.469; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.93) was significantly associated Mth primary hypJthyroidism. Further analysis using receiver operator curve (ROC) technique found that age of 8.5 year-old was the cutoff value to predict the risk of hypothyroidism. 

Conclusion The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism in our study is high. The occurrence of hypothyroidism is associated with age.

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Published
2011-04-30
How to Cite
1.
Rindang C, Batubara J, Amalia P, Satari H. Some aspects of thyroid dysfunction in thalassemia major patients with severe iron overload. PI [Internet]. 30Apr.2011 [cited 27Apr.2024];51(2):66-2. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/889
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Vol 51 No 2 (2011): March 2011
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Received 2016-10-13
Accepted 2016-10-13
Published 2011-04-30