Study of Male Sex Hormone Levels in Male Egyptian Children with Beta-Thalassemia: Correlation with Iron load

摘要

Background: Beta thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia. RBCs hemolysis and repeated blood transfusions are the major causes of secondary iron overload which leads to deposition of iron in different endocrine glands. Delayed puberty and hypogonadism are the most obvious clinical consequences of iron overload. The aim of this study was to evaluate male sex hormone levels in male children with beta-thalassemia major in correlation with iron overload.