title: Anti-nuclear antibody positivity in multi-transfused thalassemia major.
abstract: The frequency of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) was evaluated in multi-transfused patients of thalassemia major. Twelve out of 83 patients (14.5%) had positive ANA at titres of 1:80 or above. The results were compared with age and sex matched healthy controls who showed positive results in only 1 of 52 cases (1.9%; p less than 0.05). Antibody against double stranded DNA was absent. ANA positivity was found to correlate with higher age (p less than 0.01), more amount of blood transfused (p less than 0.01), splenectomy status (p less than 0.01), higher levels of serum ferritin (p less than 0.01) and presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (p less than 0.01) and antihepatitis C antibody (p less than 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, L.T.M.G. Hospital, Bombay.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gupte
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vasandani
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bhave
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear