Iron Overload Effects on Liver Function, Kidney function and Hemoglobin in β Thallassemia Major Patients

Abstract

β thalassemia, a hereditary anemia affects multiple organs. Children with ~ thalassemia major neec a regular transfusion to maintain growth ano development at normal. They also are at risk o: developing severe complications related to post transfusion iron overload, which can be prevented b~ iron chelation. In Indonesia, transfusion program and iron chelation therapy are regular treatment for them. but we still need to monitor the iron concentration Because of the damaging effects of iron overload. knowing its effect to kidney, liver, and hemoglobin is needed. The aim was to determine the relationship of serum ferritin levels with AST, ALT, BUN, serum creatinine and hemoglobin and if they can be used as a tool to monitor the health of the patients. This study used an analytic cross sectional approach and recruited a.II ~ thalassemia major patients, who received regular transfusion and iron chelation therapy. This study was conducted at dr. Soebandi General Hospital, Jember, Indonesia in October-November 2016. These samples included 15 patients. The results was a significant correlation between serum ferritin levels with AST (p=O.O13). No significant correlation was obtained between serum ferritin levels with ALT (p=0.080), serum ferritin levels with BUN (p=0.795) and serum ferritin levels with serum creatinine (p=0.537). And also there is negative correlation between serum ferritin levels with hemoglobin (t count=3. l 92, r count =-0. 7966 and r2=0.63). The conclusions is a significant relationship between elevated levels of serum ferritin to AST and low hemoglobin. But there is no significant relationship between elevated levels of serum ferritin to ALT, BUN and serum creatinine.