The Thalassemia center of Antalya State Hospital: 15 years of experience (1994 to 2008)

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2013 Jan;35(1):24-7. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3182755f1e.

Abstract

The Thalassemia center of Antalya State Hospital was established in 1994 in Antalya, Turkey. The number of newborns with thalassemia decreased statistically because of actions taken as a result of prevention studies. A total of 388 patients, including 246 with thalassemia major (63.4%), 86 with thalassemia intermediate (22.1%), 23 with sickle cell+β-thalassemia (5.9%), 20 with sickle cell disease (5.1%), and 13 with other hemoglobin abnormalities (3.3%), were studied. Complications were found to be as follows: cardiomyopathy in 45 of them (11.5%), diabetes mellitus in 10 (2.5%), hypothyroidism in 17 (4.3%), hypoparathyroidism in 2 (0.5%), osteoporosis in 53 (13.6%), growth retardation in 110 (28.3%), and hypogonadism in 75 patients (19.3%). The incidence of autoantibody and alloantibody in patients with thalassemia major was 5.6% and 10.5%, respectively. Transfusion-transmission diseases evaluated in patients found the incidence of hepatit A virus IgG to be 97.5%, that of HBs Ab to be 99.5%, HBs Ag to be 0.5%, HCV Ab to be 18%, CMV IgG to be 72.3%, CMV IgM to be 2%, and HIV-Ab to be 0%. Therefore, for the first time in our country the thalassemia center was established as a model and included subunits and a team. It served all patients for 15 years until the team was dispersed; thereafter, most of the patients were not followed up on a regular basis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / complications*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diabetes Mellitus / etiology*
  • Endocrine System Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • HIV
  • HIV Infections / etiology*
  • Hospitals, State
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / etiology*
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Thalassemia / complications*
  • Thalassemia / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Transfusion Reaction*
  • Turkey
  • Young Adult