Changes in serum immunoglobulin levels in children with thalassemia who undergo repeated blood transfusions and their correlation with delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To study the changes in serum immunoglobulin levels in children with thalassemia who undergo repeated blood transfusions and explore their correlation with delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions(DHTR). 【Methods】 Serum samples from children with thalassemia who received blood transfusion treatment from June 2022 to April 2023 (observation group) and healthy children who underwent physical examination (control group) in our hospital were collected. The levels of serum immunoglobulins (IgG subtype, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgD) were detected using flow cytometry CBA multi-factor quantitative detection technology, and the differences between the two groups were compared. The children were divided into 4 groups according to different transfusion numbers: ≤10 numbers, 11-30 numbers, 31-50 numbers and >50 numbers, and the differences between different blood transfusion numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels in each group were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Children with thalassemia with DHTR were in the hemolysis group, and children with thalassemia who did not experience DHTR were in the non-hemolysis group. The changes in serum immunoglobulins (IgG subtypes, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgD) between the two groups were compared to explore the correlation between serum immunoglobulins in thalassemia children with repeated transfusion and DHTR. 【Results】 The levels of IgG1, IgG3, IgG4 and IgA in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, with the increase of(2.07±2.12), (0.67±2.03), (0.30±0.37)and(6.04±11.40)mg/mL, respectively, while the level of IgD in observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, with a decrease of(0.03±0.01)mg/mL, P0.05). IgG1 and IgG4 both significantly increased with the number of blood transfusions.The IgG1 in the 4 groups increased sequentially as(0.30±0.62), (0.41±0.51)and(3.60±3.48)mg/mL, and IgG4 increased sequentially as (0.12±0.13), (0.22±0.07) and (0.21±0.38)mg/mL. IgG2, IgM and IgD showed a significant decrease, with IgG 2, IgM, and IgD in four groups decreased as(0.91±1.50), (0.14±0.10)and(0.05±0.05)mg/mL, respectively, showing significant differences with the number of blood transfusions(P0.05). IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 in the hemolysis group were significantly higher than those in the non-hemolysis group, with an increase of (4.44±3.41), (0.73±1.26)and(0.52±0.40), respectively(P0.05). 【Conclusion】 The serum immunoglobulin levels of children with thalassemia who undergo repeated blood transfusions are abnormal. There are differences in correlation between the number of blood transfusions and serum immunoglobulin levels among children with thalassemia who undergo repeated blood transfusions. The relevant serum immunoglobulins for DHTR in children with thalassemia who undergo repeated blood transfusions are IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4.

Effect of Benson's relaxation technique versus music intervention on physiological parameters and stress of children with thalassemia during blood transfusions: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Children with thalassemia are generally dependent on blood transfusions and face a lot of stress and alteration in their physiological parameters through the procedure. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Benson's relaxation technique versus music intervention on physiological parameters and stress of children with thalassemia during blood transfusions. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled trial with three parallel groups. METHODS: One hundred and twenty preschool-age children with thalassemia who underwent blood transfusions were randomly assigned to three groups. Children of the control group received only routine hospital care through blood transfusions. Music intervention group children listened to recorded Mozart's music and children of Benson's relaxation group received relaxation intervention before and during the blood transfusions. Outcome measures were physiological parameters and behavioral distress levels. SETTING: Hematology outpatient clinic of the Children's University Hospital at El-Shatby in Alexandria from October 2022 to February 2023. RESULTS: The mean total score of children's behavioral responses to stress before the blood transfusions procedure was 19.32 ± 4.08, 14.20 ± 0.93, and 16.92 ± 4.74 in the control, music, and Benson groups, respectively. Beyond that, there was a decline in their physiological parameters and behavioral stress response during and after procedure among groups of study (P = 0.005 & <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Music and Benson's relaxation interventions had a helpful effect on stabilizing the physiological parameters and reducing behavioral distress levels in children with thalassemia undergoing blood transfusions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study directs paediatric nurses to apply Benson's relaxation and music interventions for children with thalassemia to enhance their responses.

Cellular and humoral immune status of thalassemia children with repeated blood transfusion in Yunnan province / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the changes in cellular immunity (peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets) and humoral immunity (serum immunoglobulin and ferritin) status among children with thalassemia who received repeated transfusions in Yunnan. 【Methods】 Forty-six children with thalassemia who underwent repeated blood transfusions from January 2020 to October 2022 were selected as the observation group. Forty children with thalassemia who did not receive blood transfusion were included in control group 1, and 46 healthy children underwent physical examination were included in control group 2. The differences in lymphocyte subsets, serum immunoglobulin levels and ferritin concentrations were compared among the three groups. 【Results】 For lymphocyte subsets: CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the observation group was lower than the control group 1 and 2: 57.60±8.36 vs 64.57±7.56 vs 66.58±5.65, 33.16±5.67 vs 38.62±8.36 vs 38.62±6.41 and 1.49±0.09 vs 2.32±0.15 vs 2.13±0.16, respectively; CD16+ CD56+ in the observation group was lower than the control group 2: 11.21±5.06 vs 16.70±7.92; CD8+ in the observation group was higher than control group 1 and control group 2: 26.63± 1.75 vs 20.60±1.43 vs 18.92±0.84; CD19+ in the observation group was higher than the control group 2: 24.06±6.42 vs 19.67 ±8.42, P<0.05, but no significant difference was noticed between the two control groups(P>0.05). For serum immunoglobulin and ferritin: IgG and ferritin in the observation group were higher than control group 1 and control group 2: 10.59±3.88 vs 7.02±3.88 vs 5.58±1.98 and 2 037.37±1 377.59 vs 72.63±56.71 vs 59.48±33.88. IgA in the observation group was higher than the control group 2: 1.06±0.92 vs 0.39±0.32(P<0.05), but no significant difference was noticed between the two control groups (P>0.05). The difference of IgM and IgE between the three groups was not significant (P > 0. 05). 【Conclusion】 The proportion of lymphocyte subsets in thalassemia children with repeated blood transfusion was imbalanced,and the level of immunoglobulin in humoral immunity was abnormal.

The psychosocial challenges of mothers of children with thalassemia: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Caring for the children suffering from thalassemia is a stressful experience with various aspects making the mothers face various challenges. Thus, the present study aimed to explain the psychosocial challenges of mothers with thalassemia children based on their lived experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this qualitative study, which was conducted using the phenomenological method, 14 mothers with thalassemia children were selected from two thalassemia treatment centers in Hamadan and Babol (Iran) in 2020 using the purposive sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth and semi-structured interviews and were analyzed by van Manen's phenomenological methodology. RESULTS: In the first stage of data analysis, 534 initial codes were extracted, which were reduced to 290 by comparison and integration. The primary themes turned into 24 secondary themes after clustering. By comparing the secondary themes, three main themes (i.e., "psychological distress," "bodily burnout," and "mothers' need to empathy and support") with 7 secondary themes (i.e., "emotional exhaustion," "mental strain," "social stigma," "acute psychosomatic reactions," "long-term psychosomatic consequences," "expectation of family support," and support needs outside the family) were extracted. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that mothers with thalassemia children experience several challenges in various aspects. Therefore, they require care interventions and psychosocial support.

A family empowerment program for families having children with thalassemia, Thailand.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental design study was to examine the effectiveness of a family empowerment program (FEP) on family functioning and empowerment among 56 families having children with thalassemia. The 26 families in the experimental group received the FEP and usual care, while 30 families in the control group received usual care. Data collection occurred through family functioning and empowerment questionnaires. Between-group differences were tested with t-tests and analysis of variance. The result revealed that family caregivers who participated in the FEP had significantly increased family functioning and empowerment scores over time. The FEP can be used as a powerful intervention for assisting families and children with thalassemia and the education of health professionals.