title: [Relation between hypogonadism and malocclusion in beta-thalassemia major patients: analysis of 122 subjects].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The type of malocclusion most often seen in beta thalassemic patients is represented by Angle's II class, which however cannot be considered significant in the patients studied in this research. The only causal factor indicated by medical literature for this pathology is medullary hyperplasia due to inefficient erythropoiesis which occurs in patients transfused at low hemoglobin levels. The aim of this research is to evaluate the influence of other factors as well, particularly sexual development, the level of seric ferritin, ALT, and age at first transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and twenty-two b thalassemic patients and 39 homozygotes, aged between 16 and 27, undergoing treatment at the "Ospedale Regionale per le Microcitemie di Cagliari", have been analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the statistic analysis have shown that hypogonadism can play an important role in determining malocclusions in male beta thalassemic patients (Odds ratio 4,5; CI 1,5-13). No other factor has shown any statistically relevant influence on dental occlusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It would therefore be interesting to further investigate the hormonal mechanisms that can alter bone development in thalassemic youngsters: the prevention of such alterations will surely contribute to improving the quality of life in these patients, particularly now that their life expectancy has been significantly extended by the progress made in transfusional therapy and ferrochelation.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tuveri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dessì
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pittau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Origa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Muroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pittau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007501:Iron