TY - JOUR AU - Tatheer Zahra, Wajeeha Amber , Itrat Fatima , Tatheer Zahra, Wajeeha Amber , Itrat Fatima PY - 2019/05/02 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Effect of Combined Hydroxyurea and Chelation Therapy in Reducing Serum Ferritin Level, Liver and Spleen Size in Transfusion Dependent Thalassaemia Major Patients. JF - Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College JA - JRMC VL - 23 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/1088 SP - AB - <p>Background: To compare hydroxyurea plus iron <br>chelation therapy with iron chelation therapy alone <br>in controlling iron overload in children with beta <br>thalassaemia major. <br>Methods: In this comparative study forty <br>thalassaemia major, cases undergoing routine blood <br>transfusion, were observed in iron chelation plus <br>hydroxyurea group (n=20) and iron chelation therapy <br>alone (n=20). The study outcome was measured in <br>terms of impact of continuous blood transfusions on <br>the size of liver ,spleen and Serum. Ferritin levels <br>when compared among those given iron chelation <br>therapy with hydroxyurea and those given iron <br>chelation alone. <br>Results: Mean age of patients was comparable <br>among the two groups. Overall, males were slightly <br>greater in proportion than females (52.5% versus <br>47.5%). The mean liver size, spleen size and ferritin <br>levels were significantly low in hydroxyurea group <br>compared to no hydroxyurea group (p-value, &lt;0.001). <br>Conclusion: Hydroxyurea plus iron chelation <br>therapy is better than iron chelation therapy alone in <br>controlling iron overload in terms of enlargement of <br>liver, and also limiting iron stores.</p> ER -