Role of HPT Markers in β Thalassemia Major Patients

Patients of beta thalassemia major undergo frequent blood transfusion along with chelating therapy as a part of their treatment regimen which considerably prolonged survival of patients. However, hyper-perfusion results in iron deposition in multiple endocrine glands which leads to endocrine dysfunction. Hypoparathyrodism is a well known syndrome which is associated with beta thalassemia and seems to be cause of hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. The cause of hypoparathyrodism is assumed to be due to iron deposition in parathyroid glands. This study is conducted to determine the serum calcium and phosphorous in 30 patients of beta thalassemia major. We recommend parathyroid hormone profile should be checked regularly in all patients with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major and suggest that these tools may be applicable to other cases of suspected HPT.