Abstract
Objectives: To establish a correlation between serum ferritin and different clinical, biochemical and haematological parameters and to determine the efficacy of chelation therapy using desferrioxamine measured by serum ferritin. Patients and Methods: A case-series of one hundred patients with transfusion dependent â-thalassaemia were included in the study during a period of one year (Nov. 2007-Nov.2008). The study included clinical evaluation, routine haematological tests and serum ferritin level. Results: Mean value of serum ferritin in our patients was 1886.74 ng/ml. It was found that serum ferritin was higher in older patients, those who received higher number of blood transfusions to date and those of higher annual blood consumption. â-thalassaemic patients with serum ferritin level equal or higher than 2500 ng/ml were older, of shorter stature, had higher percentage of splenectomy, higher number of blood transfusions to date and higher annual blood consumption than patients with serum ferritin level less than 2500 ng/ml. It was found that patients with good compliance to chelation therapy with desferrioxamine had lower mean serum ferritin than patients with poor compliance. Thirty seven percent of our patients had growth retardation regarding weight for age and 57% were low in height for their age.Conclusions: Serum ferritin was higher in older patients, those with higher annual blood consumption and those with poor compliance to desferrioxamine therapy when compared to patients with good compliance. Patients with serum ferritin equal to or more than 2500 ng/ml were older and of shorter stature for their age than patients with serum ferritin less than 2500 ng/ml.
