Polyneuropathy Associated with Age of Starting the Transfusion and Serum Ferritin Level in Iranian Patients with Thalassemia Major and Intermedia

Abstract

Considering the importance of managing patients with β-thalassemia and the importance of early detection of disease complications, we examined the rate of sensorimotor neuropathy in patients with β-thalassemia and the risk factors related to it. This cross-sectional study included 44 blood transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients aged 5 years and older. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were performed via standard procedures for both motor and sensory nerves. Neuropathy was observed in 14 patients (31.8%). NCS results for sensorimotor nerves in patients were within normal range. In motor NCS results, increased ulnar nerve amplitude was observed in patients with increasing age, and peroneal nerve delay in patients with an increase in serum ferritin level (p < 0.05). In sensory NCS results, delayed ulnar and sural nerves latencies were found in patients with an increase in serum ferritin level (p < 0.05). We provide data that sensorimotor neuropathy exists in thalassemia patients. It seems that with the increase of serum ferritin level and the age of patients, neuropathy becomes more obvious, while other factors such as gender, body mass index, and the number of transfusions may not be associated with neuropathy.

Keywords:

• β-Thalassaemic patients
• polyneuropathy
• chelation therapy
• iron overload

Acknowledgement

The authors thank to the Research Council of Arak University of Medical Sciences. We would like to thank all the staff of the Blood and Oncology, Department of Amirkabir Hospital, Arak, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.