ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Key words Growth
;
Chronic
;
disease
;
Thalassaemia
;
Iron
;
Chelating therapy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Since intensive chelating therapy for thalassaemic children was introduced, growth rates appear to have diminished. To investigate what factors were responsable we compared velocities of growth in length over a period of 1 year between groups distinguished by different strategies of treatment. Forty-two thalassaemic patients, 30 males aged 4–12 years, and 12 females, 4–10 years old, were assigned from their current treatment into subgroups based upon blood ferritin levels, daily dose of deoferrioxamine and urinary zinc levels. Conclusion The results confirm that a reduction in desferrioxamine results in greater growth. If blood ferritin is low, the change effect may be greater. Secondly, any zinc deficiency should be treated. The changes in treatment convert a growth velocity of –2 to –3 SDS to a velocity of about –1 SDS.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01954272
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