Skin diseases in patients with beta-thalassemia major.
BACKGROUND
Beta-thalassemia major affects multiple organs and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The goal of this analysis was to document the frequency of skin diseases among patients with beta-thalassemia major.


METHODS
A sample of 78 patients with beta-thalassemia major was recruited and interviewed at the thalassemia clinic between April and June 2008. A dermatologist completed a skin examination of each patient and recorded any skin disease present. The patients' laboratory results and treatment modalities were recorded from the charts.


RESULTS
Sixty-five (83.3%) of the 78 patients examined had a diagnosed skin disease: pruritus (37.2%), xerosis (34.6%), scars (24.4%), ephelides (23.1%), skin irritation/erythema caused by deferoxamine pump (12.8%), idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (6.4%), pityriasis alba (6.4%), tinea infections (5.1%), verruca vulgaris (5.1%), urticaria (3.8%), hyperhidrosis, contact dermatitis, and acne (2.6%), necrobiosis lipoidica (1.3%), melasma (1.3%), and others (14.1%). Pruritus and xerosis increased in frequency with age. The mean serum ferritin level was higher in patients with xerosis than in those without (5607.7 +/- 2997.5 ng/mL and 4285.2 +/- 4732.4 ng/mL, respectively) (P1/4 0.005). Moreover, xerosis was observed significantly more frequently inpatients using deferoxamine and deferiprone than in those using deferasirox (P1/4 0.047, P1/4 0.027, and P1/4 0.273, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Skin diseases, especially pruritus and xerosis, are observed highly frequently inpatients with beta-thalassemia major. Treatment is needed for these patients who already have other significant morbidities.
Dogramaci
Asena Cigdem
AC
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. catahan85@yahoo.com
Savas
Nazan
N
Ozer
Burcin
B
Duran
Nizami
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*