title: The ICET-A Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Disturbances of Glucose Homeostasis in Thalassemia Major Patients.
abstract: Iron overload in patients with thalassemia major (TM) affects glucose regulation and is mediated by several mechanisms. The pathogenesis of glycaemic abnormalities in TM is complex and multifactorial. It has been predominantly attributed to a combination of reduced insulin secretory capacity and insulin resistance. The exact mechanisms responsible for progression from norm glycaemia to overt diabetes in these patients are still poorly understood but are attributed mainly to insulin deficiency resulting from the toxic effects of iron deposited in the pancreas and insulin resistance. A group of endocrinologists, haematologists and paediatricians, members of the International Network of Clinicians for Endocrinopathies in Thalassemia and Adolescence Medicine (ICET-A) convened to formulate recommendations for the diagnosis and management of abnormalities of glucose homeostasis in thalassemia major patients on the basis of available evidence from clinical and laboratory data and consensus practice. The results of their work and discussions are described in this article.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Quisisana Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Alexandria University Children's Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elsedfy
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al-Khoud, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Saif Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yaarubi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Paedi Center for Specialized Pediatrics, St. George's University Medical School at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Nicos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skordis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, Alexandria University Children's Hospital, Egypt, and Child Health Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khater
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Kholy
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Endocrinologist,"Screening and Functional Endocrine Diagnostics" SBALDB. Professor Ivan Mitev, Medical University Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stoeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fiscina
authors.affiliation: Medical Advisor, Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angastiniotis
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Sultan Qaboos University Oman, Sultanate of Oman & Visiting Scholar, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shahina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daar
authors.affiliation: First Department of Paediatrics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kattamis