title: [Thalassemia intermedia: 36 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalassemia intermedia empasses a mild clinical and biological spectrum. The aim is to report the clinical and biological features and treatment of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a retrospective study about 36 thalassemia intermedia patients (17 males, 19 females). Epidemiological, haematological aspects and treatment were reported
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnosis was carried out at a relatively old age 15 years (1-72).The thalassemia intermedia was characterized by mild facial deformities, splenomegaly and moderate anemia ( Hb = 9.1 g/dl). The mean serum ferritin was 518 ng/ml (25-1800). Three phenotypes are caracterised: heterozygosis beta thalassemia, beta degrees thalassemia and beta + thalassemia. Clinical complications were hypersplenism, extra medullary hematopoiesis, leg ulcers, thrombosis and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment was based on occasionally transfusion and splenectomy on event of hypersplenious (47%). Evolution of this disease was generally good with a long lifespan at 31 years (6-83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thalassemia intermedia is well tolerated. Transfusions and splenectomy were indicated in case of hypersplenious.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Aziza Othmana, Tunis.
authors.forename: Raouf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hafsia
authors.forename: Naouel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hafhouf
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belakhal
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouider
authors.forename: Wijdene
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El Borji
authors.forename: Balkis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meddeb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult