The Thalassemia Center of Antalya State Hospital

Abstract

The Thalassemia center of Antalya State Hospital was established in 1994 in Antalya, Turkey. The number of newborns with thalassemia decreased statistically because of actions taken as a result of prevention studies. A total of 388 patients, including 246 with thalassemia major (63.4%), 86 with thalassemia intermediate (22.1%), 23 with sickle cell+β-thalassemia (5.9%), 20 with sickle cell disease (5.1%), and 13 with other hemoglobin abnormalities (3.3%), were studied. Complications were found to be as follows: cardiomyopathy in 45 of them (11.5%), diabetes mellitus in 10 (2.5%), hypothyroidism in 17 (4.3%), hypoparathyroidism in 2 (0.5%), osteoporosis in 53 (13.6%), growth retardation in 110 (28.3%), and hypogonadism in 75 patients (19.3%). The incidence of autoantibody and alloantibody in patients with thalassemia major was 5.6% and 10.5%, respectively. Transfusion-transmission diseases evaluated in patients found the incidence of hepatit A virus IgG to be 97.5%, that of HBs Ab to be 99.5%, HBs Ag to be 0.5%, HCV Ab to be 18%, CMV IgG to be 72.3%, CMV IgM to be 2%, and HIV-Ab to be 0%. Therefore, for the first time in our country the thalassemia center was established as a model and included subunits and a team. It served all patients for 15 years until the team was dispersed; thereafter, most of the patients were not followed up on a regular basis.

Impact of genotype on endocrinal complications of Children with Alpha-thalassemia in China

“…31 . Several previous study have report a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitu, which ranged from 2.5% to 4.9% 32–34 , while Other had report a higer prevalence of diabetes mellitu, reaching 13% to 17.0% 35–37 . These discrepancies can be attributed to differences in the age of patients and severity of Hepatitis C virus infection, transfusion rates and chelation therapies, male sex, liver iron concentration 38, 39 .…”

Evaluation of data collected in the first stage within the scope of hemoglobinopathy control program in Turkey’s east mediterranean city Kahramanmaraş

“…Turkey is a region where carriers of thalassemia are seen frequently. In particular, the number of beta thalassemia carriers and density of other hemoglobinopathies are higher in the Mediterranean, Çukurova, Aegean and Marmara regions [4,[12][13][14][15]. The average rate of carrying thalassemia in general in Turkey is 2.1%, however this rate reaches 10% in some regions.…”

“…In the world, hemoglobinopathy diseases constitute important health problems in 71% of the countries and 3.4% of child mortality below the age of five [1,2]. According to DSÖ data, about 5% of the world population and 7% of pregnant women are affected from hemoglobinopathy disorders [1][2][3][4]. In Turkey, since Hemoglobinopathy Diseases (beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia (SCA) prevalence has increased from 0,3% to the 10% range, it has become an important public health problem [5,6].…”

“…Therefore, studies which were initiated in the 1950's in Turkey about hemoglobinopathy with the purpose of reducing the amount of morbidity and mortality related to hemoglobinopathy under the Law on Fighting Hereditary Blood Diseases have gained a significant speed with the publication of Regulation on Hereditary Blood Diseases in 2000, prepared by The Ministry of Health and National Hemoglobinopathy Council. In 2003, the Hemoglobinopathy prevention Program has been initiated in 33 cities including Kahramanmaraş and beta thalassemia centers were opened and the scans of couples were taken before they got married [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9]. The scanning program covers primarily thalassemia and hereditary blood diseases such as Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Anemia and Erythrocyte Enzyme Diseases [4,5].…”

“…In 2003, the Hemoglobinopathy prevention Program has been initiated in 33 cities including Kahramanmaraş and beta thalassemia centers were opened and the scans of couples were taken before they got married [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9]. The scanning program covers primarily thalassemia and hereditary blood diseases such as Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Anemia and Erythrocyte Enzyme Diseases [4,5]. As a result of these activities, a reduction up to 87% range has been achieved in the new born patients with beta thalassemia throughout Turkey [6,[9][10][11].…”