SERUM LIPID PROFILES IN PATIENTS WITH B-THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Das*, Dr. Md. Luthful Ehsan Fatmi, Dr. AKM Amirul Morshed, Dr. Farzana Afrooz, Dr. Khandaker Tarequl Islam, Dr. Rifat Zaman, Dr. Md. Ibrahim Khalil and Dr. Deepa Das

ABSTRACT

Objective: Beta-thalassemia is considered to be the most frequent hereditary blood disorder worldwide. Lipid abnormalities have been detected in different types of betathalassemia. The aim of this study is to assess the lipid profiles in patient with betathalassemia major. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 30 children (case) previously diagnosed as beta thalassemia major were evaluated for serum lipid levels who were admitted at the Department of Pediatrics in DMCH & Thalassemia center of Dhaka Shishu Hospital from January 2012 to December 2012. The control group included 30 ages & sex matched healthy participants. Serum lipids profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLcholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) as well as hemoglobin, MCV, MCH & MCHC were compared between the two groups. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Serum total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG) and HDL cholesterol concentrations were measured by using Photoelectric Colorimeter (ERMA INC, model no AE-30F, made in Japan) in clinical biochemistry department of Dhaka Medical College. Results: Hematological tests showed the mean haemoglobin level in thalassemia group was 7.23 gm/dl with standard deviation of 1.23 whereas in control group the mean haemoglobin level was 10.37 gm/dl with standard deviation of 1.22. There was significant differences between two groups (p=.001). Mean MCV, MCH and MCHC in thalassemic group were significantly lower [69.83 fl (SD 8.34), 23.10 pgm (SD 3.57) and 28.03% (SD-2.58)] than those in their control counterpart [8323 fl (SD 4.97), 29.23 pgm (SD 2.43) and 31.20% (SD-1.83)] respectively (p = 0.001 in all parameters). Beta thalassemia major patients had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compare with controls (p < 0.001). However, serum triglyceride levels of beta thalassemic males and females patients (203 ± 37.23, 221.21·± 36.13 gm/di respectively) were significantly higher than in control males and females (129.33 ± 13.88, -124.53 ± 15.23 gm/dl respectively) [p value < 0.001]. But total cholesterol level was not statistically significant between case & control groups. (P value 0.428). Conclusions: β Thalassemic children are at risk of developing disturbed lipid profile patterns that could place them at risk for atherosclerosis and thromboembolic events. From the findings of the study it can be concluded that there is significant difference of various lipid levels between children with beta thalassemia major and normal healthy control which may help physicians to design the therapeutic module in the treatment of such patients. It should be a motive· for concern of better evaluation of the cardiovascular risk factors in these patients.

Keywords: Beta thalassaemia major, Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), High density lipoprotein (HDL), Low density lipoprotein (LDL).