GROWTH AND SEXUAL-MATURATION IN CHILDREN WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Background and methods. Growth and endocrine disturbances are still important problems for patients with thalassemia major, which is a major health problem in southern part of Turkey. In the present study 71 thalassemia major patients over 3 years of age were evaluated for physical and sexual maturation status. Results and conclusion. Twenty-three patients (32.4%) were below the third centile for height. Growth retardation was more pronounced in patients 10 years of age and up according to height and weight standard deviation scores (SDS). Delay in bone age SDS was found in almost all patients, and 74.5% of our patients over 12 years of age had not yet entered puberty. These results show that growth and endocrine disturbances have significant negative effects in the quality of life of thalassemic patients. More detailed studies will help to solve these problems.