Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Bone mineral density in Iranian adolescents and young adults with beta-thalassemia major.

Shamshirsaz AA, Bekheirnia MR, Kamgar M, Pakbaz Z, Tabatabaie SM, Bouzari N, Pourzahedgilani N, Azarkeivan A, Hashemi SR, Moosavi F, Alebouyeh M, Vosough P, Kimiagar M, Shamshirsaz AA, Moradi M, Habibzadeh MR, Nobakhthaghighi N, Larijani B

Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center-Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.

The authors investigated the prevalence of low bone mass in patients from Tehran, Iran, with beta-thalassemia major (n = 203), aged 10-20 years, and the potential risk factors for osteoporosis in this patient population. Prevalence of osteoporosis was 50.7% in lumbar spine, 10.8% in femur, and 7.9% in both regions with no significant difference between the two genders. The following factors were associated with low BMD: height for age and weight for age below 3rd percentile, delayed puberty or hypogonadism, age when Desferal (for iron chelation) was started, duration of Desferal therapy, and serum zinc. Low serum copper and 25(OH)D were not associated with low BMD.

Published 5 September 2007 in Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 24(7): 469-79.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Anemia Research Today. All Rights Reserved.