Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Beta-thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder characterized by failure of the patient to produce beta hemoglobin chains, usually resulting in severe anemia in its homozygous and compound heterozygous forms.the use of regular and frequent blood transfusions in patients with Beta-thalassemia major has improved patients{u2019} life span and quality of life but can lead to chronic iron overload. Many of the complications of Beta-thalassemia result from iron deposition in the heart, endocrine glands and lungs. Although pulmonary dysfunction is not the most significant clinical manifestation of thalassemia, a certain reduction of pulmonary functions has been reported to occur in most subjects with beta thalassemia. So, we aimed in our study to determine the pattern of pulmonary dysfunction in ß-thalassemia children and to detect possible associated factors. Sixty ß-thalassemia patients were assessed for evaluation of pulmonary complications through detailed history taking, clinical examination and pulmonary function tests (Spirometry and Impulse oscillometry). Total of sixty children were included 53.3 % were females and 46.7% were males (with mean age of 10.6±3.5 years).By spirometry, 50% of patients showed restrictive lung disease, 15% of patients showed small air way obstruction and 35% of patients showed normal pattern. By impulse oscillometry, 35% of patients showed abnormal findings. Only 28.3% of patients showed abnormal findings in both spirometry and impulse oscillometry. Age was positively correlated to pulmonary dysfunction and no correlation was found between serum ferritin and pulmonary dysfunction

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