EVALUATION OF CONVENTIONAL RENAL FUNCTION TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH β-THALASSEMIA MAJOR USING DEFERASIROX

β-thalassemia major is characterised by grossly defective synthesis of haemoglobin A along with increased production of haemoglobin F, impaired red blood cells production and increased haemolysis of the defective red blood cells. Affected individuals are dependent on repeated blood transfusions and iron chelating therapy. Patients on blood transfusion may develop complications related to iron overload and adverse effects of chelating agent which has harmful effects on many organs in the body including the kidneys. The present study was aimed to investigate renal functions in paediatric patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia major using deferasirox. This study consisted of two groups of β-thalassemia patients; group A, 25 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients, age range 0.5–5.0 years; group B, 25 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients receiving deferasirox as chelating agent, age range 1.75–5.0 years. In addition, 25 subjects (age range 0.5–5.0 years) served as control group C. Blood samples were collected and serum was tested for creatinine, urea and ferritin. The results showed a significant increase in the mean of serum creatinine, and a significant decrease in the mean creatinine clearance in group B when compared with the control group (p≤0.05). In addition, there was a significant increase in the mean serum ferritin in group A and B when compared with the control group (p≤0.001). On the other hand, there were no significant changes in the mean serum urea between groups A and B when compared with the control group. In conclusion the results of the present study indicated no deterioration in renal functions tests (estimated using serum creatinine, urea and creatinine clearance) in β-thalassemia patients in both groups A and B. Nevertheless, subclinical alteration in renal functions could be expected in those patients, so that measurement of other early marker of glomerular and tubular dysfunction is recommended.