Correlation Of Serum Ferritin with Lipid Profile in Multiple Transfusion Dependent Beta Thalassemia Patient

Abstract

Background: Beta thalassemia major patients require regular blood transfusions leading to iron overload, which may impact lipid metabolism. This study investigated the correlation between serum ferritin and lipid profile parameters in transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia patients.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 86 transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia patients were enrolled. Serum ferritin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured after a 12-hour fast. Patients were categorized into four groups based on ferritin levels. Statistical analysis included correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression.
Results: The median serum ferritin was 2763 ng/mL, with 33.7% of patients having severe iron overload (>5000 ng/mL). Significant inverse correlations were observed between serum ferritin and TC (r=-0.463, p<0.001), HDL-C (r=-0.512, p<0.001), and LDL-C (r=-0.487, p<0.001), while TG showed a positive correlation (r=0.248, p=0.021). Multivariate analysis confirmed serum ferritin as an independent predictor of lipid parameters after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, splenectomy status, and chelation therapy type. Splenectomized patients exhibited significantly higher TG and lower HDL-C levels compared to non-splenectomized patients, while deferasirox therapy was associated with more favorable HDL-C levels.
Conclusion: Iron overload in transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia is associated with a distinctive dyslipidemic pattern characterized by reduced TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C alongside elevated TG. Regular monitoring of both iron status and lipid parameters is essential for comprehensive management of these patients, with effective iron chelation potentially mitigating adverse effects on lipid metabolism.