ABSTRACT
Beta-thalassemia Major is one of the most common diseases in Iran especially in Golestan province. Blood transfusion has many important complications such as endocrine disorders and Hypothyriodism which can result in disability and untimely mortality. This study was designed to determine the association between Hypothyroidism and serum level of ferritin in these patients. This study was performed on all patients in thalassemia center of Gorgan [n=l85] with age range of 1-37 years. During five years, level of ferritin and T[3], T[4], TSH were measured every three and 12 months respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Thirty patients had hypothyroidism. Mean age was 17.8 years and male/female ratio was 1. Five patients were under the age of 10. The average level of ferritin at the onset of complication was 2528.400 +/- 2157.300 ng/ml. Serum level of ferritin in hypothyroidism, had shown a significant difference in comparison to non-hypothyroid patients [p<0.05]. This study showed that to prevent hypothyroidism in major thalassemia, we could start clinical and para-clinical studies, such as checking serum level of ferritin. Although endocrine abnormalities are usually sought in patients over 10 years of age, we recommend starting the endocrine screening at age 5 since we had 5 patients under the age of ten with these abnormalities