Association of Serum Ferritin Levels with Haematological Parameters in Thalassaemia Major Patients

Abstract

Background: To study the association of serum ferritin levels with haematological parameters in thalassaemia major patients.
Methods: A total of 135 patients of thalassemia major were selected for this descriptive, cross sectional study. Patients were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of patients with ferritin levels <2500 ng/ml. Group II comprised of patients having ferritin levels 2500 to 5000 ng/ml. Group III comprised of patients having ferritin > 5000 ng/ml. After taking patient history, complete blood count analysis and serum ferritin level determination was performed.
Results: The mean ferritin level of study group was 6062.61 + 3641.796 ng/ml. Most of our patients were receiving less than optimal level of chelation therapy. The number of red cells and platelets in patients with ferritin levels >5000ng/ml were found to be significantly lower ((p=0.0262, and 0.0265 respectively), when compared with patients having ferritin levels <2,500 ng/ml. Other CBC parameters did not show any significant difference between the three ferritin groups.
Conclusion: High ferritin levels are associated with less than optimal chelation therapy. Lower red cell and platelet counts were observed in patients with high ferritin levels. A complete blood count analysis is essential to avoid complications associated with low cell counts