title: Morbidities and mortality in transfusion-dependent Beta-thalassemia patients (single-center experience).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The improvement of quality and duration of life of transfusion-dependent B thalassemia patients over the last years discloses several complications due to the underling disorder, iron overload and the treatment with iron chelators. Our Aim was to assess the morbidity patterns and mortality rate of transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients, and compare the outcomes in relation to age of onset, type, duration, and compliance to iron chelation therapy and frequency of blood transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 447 transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients who attended the Thalassemia Center, Ain Shams University Children's Hospital over the last 10 years in the period between January 2000 and January 2010. Data were collected from the patients or their caregivers, as well as by reviewing follow up sheets for examinations and investigations done to detect morbidities as well as iron chelation therapies given. Determination of mortality rate and the causes of death were also done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that the most common morbidities were endocrinologic (44.7%) followed by cardiovascular (41.3%) and hepatic (40.5%), then renal (4%). The different iron chelation therapy groups showed a comparable prevalence of different morbidities. The mortality rate was 1.5% and infection was the most common cause of death. The 5, 10, 20 years' survival rate among the studied patients was 80%, 50%, 20%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the past 10 years, the survival and morbidity rates in our center have markedly improved as a result of regular blood transfusion, new iron chelators, and better compliance of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Center, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Galila M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mokhtar
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadallah
authors.forename: Nayera H K
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: El Sherif
authors.forename: Heba T A
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*