title: Rheumatological complications of beta-thalassaemia: an overview.
abstract: Beta-thalassaemia, an autosomal recessive haemoglobinopathy, ranks among the most frequent monogenetic diseases globally. The severe form of the disease, beta-thalassaemia major, is accompanied by progressive involvement of multiple organ systems as a result of the disease pathophysiology as well as iron overload from blood transfusions on a regular basis. Some of the manifestations might also be caused by medications used to manage iron overload. The purpose of this review is to highlight the rheumatological complications of beta-thalassaemia, which include musculoskeletal manifestations, such as arthritis and arthropathies, joint effusions, osteoporosis, bone fractures and myalgias, in addition to CTDs, such as pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Rheumatologists are strongly encouraged to take part in a multidisciplinary approach to the management of this debilitating disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Lebanese American University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan A
authors.initials: MHA
authors.lastname: Noureldine
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center.
authors.forename: Ali T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.affiliation: Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haydar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berjawi
authors.affiliation: Lupus Research Unit, The Rayne Institute, Division of Women's Health, St Thomas Hospital, London, UK.|Department of Rheumatology, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Munther A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khamashta
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uthman
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D000077543:Deferiprone; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D063806:Myalgia / Q000209:etiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D011561:Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / Q000209:etiology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000009:adverse effects; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone
keywords: arthralgia; arthritis; aseptic necrosis of femoral head; deferiprone-related arthropathy; fractures; iron overload; joint effusion; osteoporosis; pseudoxanthoma elasticum; thalassaemia