Chronic Hemolysis May Adversely Affect Skeletal Health. A Cross-Sectional Study of a Pediatric Population.

Hereditary hemolytic disorders cause ineffective erythropoiesis and bone marrow hyperplasia. Little is known about their effect on growth and skeletal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth, bone and body composition of non transfusion-dependent (NTD) pediatric patients with chronic hemolysis.

Bone health evaluation of children and adolescents with homozygous β-thalassemia: implications for practice.

Objective: Bone tissue is adversely affected in patients with homozygous β-thalassemia. The aim of this study was to find warning signs of bone loss in young patients with β-thalassemia and allow prompt therapeutic interventions.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients were studied, 20 boys and 18 girls, aged 5 to 18 years (median = 14.