Evaluation of Delayed Puberty of Patients with Beta Thalassemia Major in –Diyala Governorate

Abstract

Background: The absence of secondary sexual characteristics are known complications in patients with beta thalassemia major. Objective: Evaluation the effects of frequent blood transfusions on puberty in patients afflicted with beta thalassemia (β-thal) major. Patients and Methods: Eighty patients with beta thalassemia major were categorized into two groups, 51 male and 29 female,and 40 normal individuals were chosen as a control group. The concentrations of the luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) in both genders,Estradiol in female and testosterone in male were evaluated in the sera of patients and controls by ELISA method. Results: The mean concentrations of serum FSH ,LH, estradiol in female ,and testosterone in male showed highly significant decrease in patients with beta thalassemia major in comparison with control group. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was reported in 67.5% of all β-thalassemia patients(70.6% of male and 62.1% of female ). Conclusion: Delayed puberty is caused by the effect of excess iron on the anterior lobe of pituitary gland.