Evaluation of Lipid Profile among Transfusion Dependent Thalassemic Children and Assessing Its Correlation with Serum Ferritin

Background: Thalassemias are inherited hemoglobin disorders that necessitate lifelong blood transfusions. Patients having transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) experience excess iron deposition in different organs. Due to excess of iron in the liver, lipid metabolism of these patients become altered. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the lipid profile and its correlation with serum ferritin among transfusion dependent thalassemic children. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from October 2021 to September 2022. Total 35 children diagnosed as TDT, aged 2 to 18 years were enrolled as cases. Another 35 age and sex matched children were included as controls. Their fasting serum lipid profile [Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol and Triglyceride (TG)] and serum ferritin levels were measured and correlation was performed accordingly. Results: The mean values of TC, HDL, LDL and TG were 107.3±22.17 mg/dl, 22.7±7 mg/dl, 58.7±18.4 mg/dl and 135.1±43 mg/dl in the TDT group. Among the controls the mean values of these variables were 149.09±20.78 mg/dl, 44.89±10.17 mg/dl, 86.51±21.47 mg/dl and 87.97±30.47 mg/dl respectively. In TDT group; TC, HDL, LDL levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) and TG level was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared with that of controls. There was a significant positive correlation observed between TC and TG with ferritin (p<0.05). Conclusion: Transfusion dependent thalassemic children have low TC, HDL, LDL and high TG level. Total Cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels of TDT children have a positive correlation with serum ferritin level.