Evolution of glucose intolerance and diabetes in transfused patients with thalassemia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the evolution of glucose disturbances (GD) in patients with thalassemia aged 11-30 years.


METHODS
A total of 263 patients, classified into three groups on the basis of age, and period of follow-up ranging from 2-10 years, were studied. Evolution of GD was assessed through serial oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), based on WHO criteria.


RESULTS
At baseline (11-14 years of age) evaluation of OGTT disclosed a prevalence of 16.3% of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and zero for diabetic tolerance (DT). Prevalence of IGT increased progressively up to 39% in the following 4 years, but remained constant during the last 6 years of observation. In contrast, DT had a very low prevalence, beginning with 0.5% at 13-16 years, increasing to 2.4% by the age of 21-24 years.


CONCLUSIONS
During puberty and early adolescence impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was found in a considerable proportion of thalassemics. In contrast, DT was infrequent and progression to DM was slow. Only 12.4% of patients with IGT developed DT within a period of 10 years. Further studies are necessary to identify all of the factors contributing to abnormalities of glucose metabolism in thalassemic patients.
Kattamis
Christos
C
Thalassemia Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University, Agia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. ckattamis@cc.uoa.gr
Ladis
Vassilis
V
Tsoussis
Dimitrios
D
Kaloumenou
Irene
I
Theodoridis
Charalampos
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy