Co-existing iron deficiency/overload in beta-thalassemia trait

Objective: To identify the co-existence of iron deficiency and iron overload in individuals with beta thalassaemia trait. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute and Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan, September 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017, and comprised individuals with hypochromic microcytic blood picture. Haemoglobin electrophoresis was performed on their blood samples. Serum ferritin levels of subjects with Haemoglobin Subunit Alpha 2 levels between 3.5% and 7% were checked. Data were analysed using analysed using GraphPad Prism v6. Results: Of the 292 subjects, 159(54.5%) were males and 133(45.5%) were females. Of these, 240 (82.2%) were anaemic and 52 (17.8%) had haemoglobin within the normal range. Serum ferritin level of 55(18.8%) subjects was low and 207(70.9%) were iron-replete. Notably, 30(10.3%) subjects had serum ferritin levels higher than the reference range, and this was more common among adults (p<0.001). Conclusion: Ferritin levels in beta thalassaemia trait can be low, normal or higher than the normal values.