WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Hayder Abdulhussien Azeez*, Moaid Abd Almajeed Abood and Farouq Hameed Dhiab

ABSTRACT

Background: Pulmonary function abnormalities have been described in patients with thalassemia major. Of these, restrictive abnormalities are the most frequent. Aim: To show the effects of thalassemia on the lung functions of patients with thalassemia major. Method: From February to December 2021, Babil Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital in Hilla, Iraq, studied 125 individuals, 65 of whom had thalassemia major and 60 normal children as controls. Children aged 6-14 attended the hospital's hereditary blood center. Pulmonary function tests, SpO2, and serum ferritin were also performed. Results: The study found a significant decrease in forceful expiratory volume and vital capacity for thalassemia patients compared to the normal group (P value < 0.05), but no significant difference in SpO2 (P value > 0.05). Lung limitation was minor in 37% of patients, moderate to severe in 3%, and normal in 60%. The study indicates a substantial rise in serum ferritin levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The study found no link between serum ferritin and forceful vital capacity. Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in forceful expiratory volume in one second and forceful vital capacity. The most common pulmonary functions test effects in thalassemia patients was the restrictive pulmonary abnormality.