Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia: A Single Thalassemia Center Experience from Northeastern Iraq

Table 7

Comparison of some parameters, treatment options, and disease-related complications between the current study and some other related studies.

Parameter	Current study () %	Lebanon () 2000 [28]	Optimal care () 2010 [34]	Iran () 2011 [36]	Basra () 2013 [35]	Dohuk () 2014 [17]	Italy () 2014 [37]	Sri Lanka () 2019 [38]
Splenectomized	32.7	59	55.7	46.9		23.0	49	12.0
Serum ferritin (μg/L)
<1000	76.7		64.4		55	67.6
>1000	23.3		35.6		45	32.4
Treatment
Transfusion
Never transfused	20.8	28.8	23.8	27.5	21.2	32.4	53	4.0
Occasionally	47.2	58.9	24.5	45.5	78.8	51.4	34	42
Regularly	32.1	12.3	51.7	27		16.2	13	44
Iron chelation	39.6		47.5			14.9	56	46
Hydroxyurea	47.2		34.6			2.7	16
Complications
Facial deformity	62.3	44				73
Osteoporosis	28.3		22.9	53	30.0		49
Growth retardation (height < 3rd percentile)	27.8				42.5	31.3		26.7
Subclinical hypothyroidism	16.8						33.3
Cholelithiasis	13.8		17.1	9.8	2.5			10.0
PHT	11.3		11	23.5	5.0	20.4		33.3
Abnormal liver function	7.5		9.8	29.3		13.5

Not mentioned in the study.