Evaluation the concentration of hormonal and cytokine parameters in beta thalassemia major patients

β-Thalassemia is one of the most common groups of hereditary hemoglobinopathies. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of hepcidin, ferritin, some interleukins (IL-6 and IL-10), and some hormones (Testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]) in β-thalassemia patients compared to healthy people.

This study was conducted on 150 male subjects. Individuals were randomly assigned to either case group (β-thalassemia patients, n=100) or control group (healthy, n=50) based on simple randomization from Azadi Teaching Hospital and Al-Jumhuri Hospital in Iraq, from April 2022 to July 2022. Experimental work was carried out at laboratories in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Our findings showed that the hepcidin and ferritin concentrations had a significant increase in the case group (P<0.05) compared to the control group. IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations demonstrated a significant rise in patients (P<0.05) compared to the control group. The concentration of sexual hormones (Testosterone and FSH) demonstrated a significant reduction in the case group (P<0.05) compared to the control group.

β-thalassemia, in addition to hematological abnormalities, is caused by mutations in the beta gene. It is involved with other problems, such as immune, inflammatory, and endocrine imbalances. Evaluating and monitoring the biochemical, hormonal, and inflammatory factors mentioned in the present study can help prevent the iron-overload-induced consequences of major β-thalassemia.