Hypothyroidism in β-Thalassemia Intermedia Patients with and without Hydroxyurea.
Hydroxyurea (HU) has been successfully used in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI). We aimed to evaluate the effect of the long-term use of HU on thyroid function in patients with β-TI. Seventy-five patients with β-TI aged≥11 years and taking HU were randomly selected during 2010 in southern Iran. Thirty-one patients with β-TI without HU were considered as a control group. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and T4 were measured. The mean age of the participants was 22.7±5.1 years (age range=12-41 years). Serum ferritin level had no significant correlation with HU consumption (P>0.05). Overall, we detected 10 (9.4%) patients with hypothyroidism. We found that the use of HU at a dose of 8-15 mg/kg/day has no significant association with thyroid function in β-TI patients. However, due to the small sample size in our study, documentation of this finding needs further studies with higher numbers of patients.
Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
Omid Reza
OR
Zekavat
Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran;
Ali Reza
AR
Makarem
Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
Sezaneh
S
Haghpanah
Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Zohreh
Z
Karamizadeh
Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
Parvin
P
Javad
Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
Mehran
M
Karimi
Hydroxyurea; Thalassemia intermedia; Thyroid function