Effect of wheat grass therapy on transfusion requirement in beta-thalassemia major.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of wheat grass juice on transfusion requirement in patients with beta thalassemia major.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients of thalassemia major with a median age of 16 years were given wheat grass juice tablets.


RESULTS
The Mean pre and post wheat grass therapy, the pack cell requirement was 288.06 +/- 53.25 gm/Kg/year and 301.25 +/- 54.86 gm/Kg/year (p =0.054) respectively. No adverse effects were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that wheat grass therapy for one year is not effective in reducing the transfusion requirement in transfusion dependent thalassemia.
Choudhary
Dharma R
DR
Department of Hematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. dr_drchoudhary@yahoo.com
Naithani
Rahul
R
Panigrahi
Inusha
I
Kumar
Rajat
R
Mahapatra
Manoranjan
M
Pati
Hara Prasad
HP
Saxena
Renu
R
Choudhry
Ved P
VP
D000293:Adolescent; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013607:Tablets; D014908:Triticum; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D013607:Tablets