Intervertebral disc calcification in thalassemia intermedia.
OBJECTIVE
Intervertebral disc calcification, an age-related phenomenon of variable clinical significance is described in hemochromatosis. As beta-thalassemia is characterized by excessive tissue iron deposition and secondary hemosiderosis, and skeletal abnormalities are often observed in these patients, this study is conducted to identify the prevalence of Intervertebral Disc Calcification (IDC) in thalassemia intermedia population.


METHODS
We investigated all the elder than 30 years beta-thalassemia intermedia patients of our Department thalassemia unit. Patients underwent thoracic and lumbar spinal X-rays for IDC presence. Patients presenting IDC were compared to those not presenting, regarding back pain anamnesis, presence of back pain, extramedullary hemopoiesis, sex, age, Hb levels, ferritin levels, reticulocytes, bilirubin values, thyroid-parathyroid abnormalities. Student's t-test was used to compare variables between patients with and without IDC. A P-value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
We investigated 30 beta-thalassemia intermedia patients (19 women) with an age range 38-61 yr (42.5 +/- 11.46 yr). Intervertebral disc calcifications were observed in seven patients (23.33%). No sex and laboratory parameters statistically significant differences were observed differences for IDC prevalence, while mean age and back pain history was statistically significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In thalassemia patients, the big variety of spinal deformities may hide the presence of IDC and thus, this entity may be overlooked or underestimated. The clinical significance of IDC development as well as the possible prevention by early transfusion chelation therapy should be further investigated.
Aessopos
Athanassios
A
First Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Tsironi
Maria
M
Polonifi
Katerina
K
Baltopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Vaiopoulos
George
G
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014965:X-Rays; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*