IRON OVER LOAD AND ITS RELATION WITH HAEMOSTATIC PARAMETERS IN BETA-THALASSEMIA PATIENTS

Background: Patients with beta-thalassemia major have been observed to experience changes in their coagulation profile. These changes include an elongated prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time as well as bring down levels of natural anticoagulants and coagulation factors. The mechanisms underlying the occurrence of thrombotic tendencies in some thalassemia patients remain unclear. This study aims to examine the alterations in the iron and coagulation profile among beta-thalassemia patients. Methods: After informed consent, 50 children having beta-thalassemia, and 50 healthy controls were included in this study. Blood samples were collected and serum ferritin, haematological and haemostatic parameters were measured. Data was analysed on SPSS-24. Results: The laboratory assessment revealed 43.5% of the patients had thrombocytopenia, 54% had prolonged prothrombin time (PT), and 56% of the patients had prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). All estimated coagulation factors exhibited lower activity levels in comparison to the control group. Serum ferritin exhibited a positive relationship with PT and aPTT and a substantial negative relationship with total platelet count. Conclusion: High serum ferritin levels are associated to abnormal haemostatic parameters in thalassemia patients. Regular monitoring of serum ferritin levels is essential to ensure that thalassemia patients receive appropriate treatment and support. Pak J Physiol 2024;20(3):71–3, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v20i3.1742