Original Articles
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2025): Review Articles, Original Article, Scientific Letter, Case Reports Letter to the Editor
PREDISPOSING FACTORS TO INFECTIONS IN THALASSEMIA SYNDROME PATIENTS
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Received: February 12, 2025
Accepted: July 19, 2025
Accepted: July 19, 2025
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Introduction: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by defective hemoglobin production, leading to chronic anemia. Patients, particularly those who are transfusion-dependent, face a heightened risk of infections due to disease-related factors like anemia and treatment-related complications such as iron overload and splenectomy. This study explores the factors contributing to infections in thalassemia patients to improve management strategies.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 303 patients with thalassemia at a tertiary care center from 2007 to 2022. Data were collected on demographics, transfusion dependency, splenectomy status, ferritin levels, vaccination history, and culture results. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify infection risk factors, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Out of 303 patients, 72 (23.8%) experienced culture-positive infections, with Escherichia coli being the most isolated pathogen. Patients with infections had significantly higher ferritin levels and were less likely to be on chelation therapy. Combined chelation therapy, however, showed a protective effect (OR: 0.02, p = 0.01). Female patients were more susceptible to infections (OR: 2.94, p = 0.04), while mortality was notably higher in patients with positive cultures (22% vs. 3%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study highlights the strong link between iron overload, chelation and risk of infection in thalassemia patients. Effective management, including proper chelation therapy and monitoring ferritin levels, is critical for reducing infections and improving outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and guide future management strategies.
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How to Cite
“PREDISPOSING FACTORS TO INFECTIONS IN THALASSEMIA SYNDROME PATIENTS” (2025) Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 17(1), p. e2025055. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2025.055.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eman M Mansory, Lina M. Abdulrahman, Balsam Osman, Sawsan M. Sawsan, Assil F. Ruckn, Marwa Aljedaani, Nemmat Hassan, Ahmed S. Barefah, Hatem M. Alahwal, Yassir Daghistani, Salem M. Bahashwan, Abdullah T. Almohammadi, Osman O. Radhwi
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