A Study of Autoimmunity in Children with Thalassemia Major
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- Category: Vol. 78, June 2010
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A Study of Autoimmunity in Children with Thalassemia Major,KHALED H. TAMAN, KHALED M. SALAMA, ABDEL FATTAH M. AHMAD, EITHAR K. EL ADHAM and MOHAMAD M. BAYOUMI
Abstract
Aim: This study was subjected to estimate the most common autoimmune complications in thalassemics and the prevalence of different auto antibodies so as to evaluate its correlation with personal data including age, sex, growth parameters, hepatitis C antibody status, ferritin level and type of iron chelation therapy.
Methodology: Different Abs including anticardiolipin, antihistone, ANA, antierythropoietin by ELISA technique, hepatitis C virus by ELISA and. Ferritin by IRMA (Immune radiometric assay), result of the study were analyzed by appropriate statistical methods.
Results: ANA were positive in 13.3%, antierythropoietin antibodies were positive in 15% of cases while antierythro-poietin antibodies were positive in 93.3% of cases and they were not significantly related to HCV antibody status or type of chelation. The mean age of hepatitis C virus negative cases was significantly lower than hepatitis C virus positive cases, ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients on deferi-pone than those on desferioxamine.
Conclusion: The presence of auto antibodies especially antierythropoietin antibodies is prevalent among thalassemia major patients.