Lipid profile in children with β-thalassemia major

Background: β-Thalassemia major is a very serious blood condition, as affected patients are unable to synthesize enough healthy red blood cells and depend on blood transfusions throughout their life.Aim of work: The aim of the study was to evaluate the lipid profile in patients with β-thalassemia major.Patients and methods: Fifty patients with β-thalassemia major and 25 healthy controls were included in this study. They were subjected to complete history taking, a thorough clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including complete blood count, liver function test, and assessment of serum ferritin levels and fasting lipid profile including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs) levels.Results: Patients with β-thalassemia major showed significantly lower total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol when compared with controls. Serum TG levels of β-thalassemia major patients were found to be significantly higher than the levels in control individuals. Our results revealed that the lipid profile changed in patients with thalassemia major.Conclusion: In thalassemic patients, adequate chelation therapy with normalization of serum ferritin level and monitoring of TGs is highly recommended, and they are treated aggressively if the levels are increased. Several interventions including antioxidant therapy and vitamin-lowering and lipid-lowering agents should be used in high-risk patients with β-thalassemia major to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis.