Lipid Profile in Thalassemia Major Patients on Desferrioxamine Therapy

Objectives: (a) To determine the differences in lipid profile parameters between thalassemia major (TM) patients not taking desferroxamine (DFO) who show signs of iron overload (IOL) and those wellcontrolled TM patients on DFO therapy. (b) To determine the effects of age and BMI on measured parameters in both groups. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in Thalassemia Center at Ibn-Al-Atheer Pediatric Hospital in Mosul from October 2007 to April 2008. Twenty patients with TM were selected as follows: Ten patients on DFO therapy with no signs of IOL and ten TM patients not on DFO therapy and showing signs of IOL. Data were presented as mean ± SD; independent samples t-test was used in comparing both groups, while effects of age and BMI on measured parameters were determined by using Pearson correlation. Results: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and atherogenic index (AI) showed significant increase in IOL group, while serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) showed significant reduction in IOL group, when compared to the second group. Age and BMI show no significant correlation with measured parameters in wellcontrolled group, while in IOL group, BMI showed positive correlation with LDL-C and AI. Conclusion: Significant changes in lipid profile parameters were seen in TM patients not taking DFO therapy and showing signs of IOL compared to those well-controlled patients on DFO therapy.