European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

RELATIONSHIP OF IRON OVERLOAD WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE IN A GROUP OF CHILDREN WITH ?-THALASSAEMIA MAJOR

Nafisa Fatima, Dr. Rukhshan Khurhsid* and Muhammad Idrees Khan

ABSTRACT

Due to regular transfusion, iron overload in thalassemic patients may give damaging effects to number of organs including liver, pancrease, heart which may arise complication. Study was designed to see the relationship of iron overload with insulin resistance in a group of children with β-thalassaemia major. The study was included 75 diagnosed beta thalassemia major patients (40 male and 35 female) with age range 10-25 years receiving regular blood transfusion. The levels of hemogobin and percentage of hematocrit is estimated. Level of serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity, fasting blood glucose and serum insulin were estimated by standard methods. Insulin resistance was calculated by formula. Mean age of male and female was 10 and 12 years with low body weight. Blood transfusion was started at the age of 5-6 month with duration of 1-2 per month. Decreased level of hemoglobin and percentages of hematocrit was observed in both sexes. Level of serum ferritin was high in both sexes. Values of TIBC and level of fasting blood sugar was normal in both sexes. Level of serum insulin was high in both sexes where as value of insulin resistance was mildly high only in male. Positive Pearson coefficient correlation was observed between TIBC and insulin resistance and also between serum ferritin and insulin resistance. A positive association of serum ferritin and TIBC (iron over load related parameters) with insulin resistance may indicate an increase risk of developing type 1diabetes in children with beta thalassemia. It is therefore a need of regular follow-up of transfusion dependent thalassaemic patients with respect to iron overload to ensure proper management of iron overload associated complications.

Keywords: Beta thalassemia, serum ferritin, insulin resistance.