Prevalence of Hypogonadism in β-Thalassemia Major Patients from Gaza Strip

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypogonadism among β-Thalassemia Major (β-TM) adolescent patients, and the role of iron chelation therapy (ICT) in its prevention. Data was collected from 60 β-TM patients and 35 controls aged 13─ 30 years through a questionnaire and a review of medical history to collect sociodemographic characteristics, transfusion regimen, chelating history and pubertal status. Complete blood count, serum ferritin, and pituitary-gonadal function tests were analyzed 1–2 weeks after blood transfusion. Logistic regression, independent t-test, and chi-square test were used to analyze our results and the significance was tested at p≤ 0.05. The overall prevalence of hypogonadism among β-TM patients was 75%, the mean of serum ferritin was 6704.83± 2849 ng/ml and all patients had serum ferritin above 2000 ng/ml indicating a severe iron overload. Low hemoglobin level (p=0.006), high ferritin level (p=0.018), high blood transfusion per year (24-blood transfusions) (p=0.007), and poor compliance to iron chelation therapy programs (p=0.001), were detected had significant partial effect in hypogonadism. In conclusion, hypogonadism is highly prevalent among Gaza strip β-TM patients. Its presence being associated with lower hemoglobin values, iron overload, high blood transfusion and low compliance of iron chelation therapy

The Importance of Antenatal Diagnostic Procedures in The Minor Thalassaemic Pregnant Women to Decrease The Incidence of Congenital Major Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is a common disease in the medetereanean sea countres including Syria. A study was done on 44 women with thalassaemia, showed that all children of these women were suffering from thalassemia. And that the positive consanguinity in there familis was 65.9%. Most of the cases of thalassemia were found in the area around Damascus and at the Syrian coast (North west Syria). Untill now in Syria there is No center for thalassaemia that can diangnose and Treat and manage thalassaemia patients, So many Patients travel to other countries who have Such centers, the nearest center is in Cyprus, but the costs a in Money and time were very high. The affected women were sent to Cyprus where prenatal diagnostic methods were done during pregnancy, Prenatal and Postnatal Diagnosis were the same.