Two risk factors for hypozincemia in diabetic β-thalassemia patients: Hepatitis C and deferasirox.

Background And Aim: Hypozincemia is a prevalent adverse consequence in diabetes mellitus (DM) and β-Thalassemia patients. We aimed to evaluate the level of serum zinc in β-thalassemia patients with DM and a risk assessment for hypozincemia.

Methods: The study population included transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) with overt DM (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL, and/or 2-h plasma glucose≥200 mg/dL).

Amlodipine: Can act as an antioxidant in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia? A double-blind, controlled, crossover trial.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant effects of amlodipine in transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) patients.

Methods: This crossover trial consisted of two sequences (AP and PA). In the AP sequence, nine cases received amlodipine 5 mg daily (phase I) and then were switched to placebo (phase II).

Ferritin thresholds for cardiac and liver hemosiderosis in β-thalassemia patients: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Ferritin is frequently used to screen some dire consequences of iron overload in β-thalassemia patients. The study aimed to define the best cutoff point of ferritin to screen for cardiac and liver hemosiderosis in these cases. This was a registry-based study on β-thalassemia patients living throughout Mazandaran province, Iran (n = 1959).

A double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of amlodipine on iron overload status in transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients.

Background And Aim: This study examined whether administration of amlodipine could improve myocardial iron loading status in patients with transfusion dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), through a placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Methods: Amlodipine (5 mg, daily) or placebo were prescribed to all patients (n = 19) for 6 months, and after a 2-week washout period, patients were crossed over to the other group. The efficacy of amlodipine on iron loading was assessed by measuring myocardial T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI T2*, millisecond [ms]) and serum ferritin (ng/mL).

Moderate to severe liver siderosis and raised AST are independent risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency in β-thalassemia patients.

Numerous problematic disorders such as vitamin D (Vit-D) deficiency subsequent to large iron loading can be developed in patients with β-thalassemia. The study aimed to estimate Vit-D insufficiency and its risk factors in patients with β-thalassemia. In this multicenter and observational study, all β-thalassemia patients, who referred to 14 hospital-based thalassemia divisions or clinics in Mazandaran province, Iran were included in the study.