Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia

Background. Nontransfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) is a milder form of thalassemia that does not require regular transfusion. It is associated with many complications, which differ from that found in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). Currently available information is mostly derived from...

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Main Authors: Poramed Winichakoon, Adisak Tantiworawit, Thanawat Rattanathammethee, Sasinee Hantrakool, Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha, Ekarat Rattarittamrong, Lalita Norasetthada, Pimlak Charoenkwan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Anemia
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/793025
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author Poramed Winichakoon
Adisak Tantiworawit
Thanawat Rattanathammethee
Sasinee Hantrakool
Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha
Ekarat Rattarittamrong
Lalita Norasetthada
Pimlak Charoenkwan
author_facet Poramed Winichakoon
Adisak Tantiworawit
Thanawat Rattanathammethee
Sasinee Hantrakool
Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha
Ekarat Rattarittamrong
Lalita Norasetthada
Pimlak Charoenkwan
author_sort Poramed Winichakoon
collection DOAJ
description Background. Nontransfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) is a milder form of thalassemia that does not require regular transfusion. It is associated with many complications, which differ from that found in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). Currently available information is mostly derived from beta-NTDT; consequently, more data is needed to describe complications found in the alpha-NTDT form of this disease. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of NTDT patients from January 2012 to December 2013. Complications related to thalassemia were reviewed and compared. Results. One hundred patients included 60 females with a median age of 38 years. The majority (54 patients) had alpha-thalassemia. Overall, 83 patients had one or more complications. The three most common complications were cholelithiasis (35%), abnormal liver function (29%), and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) (25%). EMH, cardiomyopathy, cholelithiasis, and pulmonary hypertension were more commonly seen in beta-thalassemia. Osteoporosis was the only complication that was more common in alpha-thalassemia. The risk factors significantly related to EMH were beta-thalassemia type and hemoglobin < 8 g/dL. The risk factors related to osteoporosis were female gender and age > 40 years. Iron overload (ferritin > 800 ng/mL) was the only risk factor for abnormal liver function. Conclusion. The prevalence of alpha-NTDT complications was lower and different from beta-thalassemia.
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spelling doaj-art-ff50c9460ecc4c809fe4d0caa4ef6f532025-08-20T03:25:40ZengWileyAnemia2090-12672090-12752015-01-01201510.1155/2015/793025793025Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-ThalassemiaPoramed Winichakoon0Adisak Tantiworawit1Thanawat Rattanathammethee2Sasinee Hantrakool3Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha4Ekarat Rattarittamrong5Lalita Norasetthada6Pimlak Charoenkwan7Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intravaroros Road, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandBackground. Nontransfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) is a milder form of thalassemia that does not require regular transfusion. It is associated with many complications, which differ from that found in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT). Currently available information is mostly derived from beta-NTDT; consequently, more data is needed to describe complications found in the alpha-NTDT form of this disease. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of NTDT patients from January 2012 to December 2013. Complications related to thalassemia were reviewed and compared. Results. One hundred patients included 60 females with a median age of 38 years. The majority (54 patients) had alpha-thalassemia. Overall, 83 patients had one or more complications. The three most common complications were cholelithiasis (35%), abnormal liver function (29%), and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) (25%). EMH, cardiomyopathy, cholelithiasis, and pulmonary hypertension were more commonly seen in beta-thalassemia. Osteoporosis was the only complication that was more common in alpha-thalassemia. The risk factors significantly related to EMH were beta-thalassemia type and hemoglobin < 8 g/dL. The risk factors related to osteoporosis were female gender and age > 40 years. Iron overload (ferritin > 800 ng/mL) was the only risk factor for abnormal liver function. Conclusion. The prevalence of alpha-NTDT complications was lower and different from beta-thalassemia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/793025
spellingShingle Poramed Winichakoon
Adisak Tantiworawit
Thanawat Rattanathammethee
Sasinee Hantrakool
Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha
Ekarat Rattarittamrong
Lalita Norasetthada
Pimlak Charoenkwan
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
Anemia
title Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
title_full Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
title_fullStr Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
title_short Prevalence and Risk Factors for Complications in Patients with Nontransfusion Dependent Alpha- and Beta-Thalassemia
title_sort prevalence and risk factors for complications in patients with nontransfusion dependent alpha and beta thalassemia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/793025
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