Background: In transfusion dependent thalassemic (TDT) patients regular blood transfusion leads to iron overload. This increased iron is deposited in the tissue of various system and causes organ damage. Endocrine dysfunction is very common due to iron deposition into the endocrine glands including parathyroid dysfunction. Objective: To measure plasma intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH), serum total calcium and inorganic phosphate levels in adult male patients with TDT. Methods:This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from March 2018 to February 2019. Total 35 TDT male patients aged 18 to 40 year and 35 age matched apparently healthy male subjects were enrolled for this study as control. The TDT patients were selected from the outpatient department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine. For assessment of parathyroid function serum albumin, plasma iPTH, serum total calcium and inorganic phosphate levels were estimated by colorimetric method using automated analyzer. For statistical analysis, independent sample t test was done. Results: In this study, plasma iPTH and serum corrected calcium levels were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in patients with TDT than those of healthy control. Again, Serum inorganic phosphate and ALP levels were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in patients with TDT than those of healthy control. Moreover, 2.86% of TDT patients had low iPTH. Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that reduced parathyroid function was associated with TDT. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2019, December; 14(2): 77-81

Background: Thalassemia is a genetic disorder of defective hemoglobin synthesis. In transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT), iron overload is caused by repeated blood transfusion for a long time. This increased iron is deposited in body tissue and may lead to endocrine dysfunction. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin and parathyroid dysfunction in adult male patients with TDT. Methods: It was a cross sectional study which was conducted from March 2018 to February 2019 in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. For this study, 35 TDT male patients aged 18 to 40 year, were considered as study group and 35 age and sex matched apparently healthy subjects were considered as control group. The outpatient department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine was the point of collection of study group. Parathyroid function was assessed by plasma intact para thyroid hormone (iPTH), serum total calcium and serum inorganic phosphate. Plasma iPTH and serum ferritin levels were estimated by Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay method using automated analyzer. Serum total calcium and serum inorganic phosphate levels were estimated by colorimetric method using automated analyzer. Independent sample t test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) test were applied for statistical analysis using SPSS version 16. Results: In this study, serum ferritin level was significantly (p <0.001) higher in patients with TDT than that of healthy control. Correlation analysis showed negative correlation of serum ferritin with plasma iPTH and serum corrected calcium and positive correlation with serum inorganic phosphate in patients with TDT. Among them correlation with serum corrected calcium and inorganic phosphate were statistically significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that TDT may be associated with elevated iron status which is inversely related with parathyroid function. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2022, June; 17(1): 1-5

Background: Regular blood transfusion and iron chelation is the primary treatment of thalassemia patientsto maintain their life. Iron chelatormay alter serum total calcium and magnesium level in TDT patients. Objective: To evaluateany alteration of serum total calcium and magnesium level in transfusion dependent thalassemia patients treated with iron chelator. Method: The present cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka between September 2017 to February 2019. Thirty cases of TDT, aged 5-40 year were included in the study group. Age and sex matched 30 healthy subjects were also studied as control. All the TDT patients were selected from the outpatient Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka. Serum total calcium, magnesium and ferritin levels were measured by colorimetric method. For statistical analysis independent sample t test and Chi-Square test and Pearson correlation coefficient test were used. Result: The mean serum total calcium and magnesium levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower and serum ferritin level was significantly (p<0.001) higher in study group compared to that of control. Again, in this study group 6.7 % TDT patients had hypocalcemia and 13.3% TDT patients had hypomagnecemia. Conclusion: This study may conclude that low serum total calcium and magnesium level may be associated with TDT patients treated by combined deferoxamine (DFO) & deferiprone (DFP) iron chelator. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2020, June; 15(1): 17-22

Background: Transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients require regular blood transfusion and iron chelator therapy to maintain their life. Iron chelator may alter serum zinc and copper level in TDT patients. Objective: To observe serum zinc and copper and ferritin levels in transfusion dependent thalassemic patients treated with iron chelator. Method: The present cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka between September 2017 to February 2019. Thirty cases of TDT, aged 5-40 year were included in the study group. Age and sex matched 30 healthy subjects were also studied as control. All the TDT patients were selected from the outpatient Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka. Serum zinc was measured by Spectrophotometric method and serum copper and ferritin levels were measured by colorimetric method. For statistical analysis independent sample t test was used. Result: The mean serum zinc level was significantly (p<0.05) lower and serum ferritin level was significantly (p<0.001) higher in TDT compared to control. Again, mean serum copper level and Zn/Cu ratio were not significantly (p>0.05) different in study groups compared to that of control. In addition, 3.3 % TDT patients had hypozincemia and 13.3% TDT patients had hypercupremia. Conclusion: This study may conclude that low serum zinc level and high copper level may be associated with TDT patients treated by combined deferoxamine (DFO) & deferiprone (DFP) iron chelator. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2019, June; 14(1): 38-42