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Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal function in adolescent females with beta‐thalassemia major
Author(s) -
AlRimawi H.S.,
Jallad M.F.,
Amarin Z.O.,
Obeidat B.R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.03.024
Subject(s) - medicine , hypogonadotropic hypogonadism , hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis , beta thalassemia , chelation therapy , thalassemia , endocrinology , delayed puberty , ferritin , pediatrics , physiology , hormone , luteinizing hormone
Objective: To evaluate the function of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis in adolescent female patients with beta‐thalassemia major. Materials and methods: A prospective study of the function of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis function of 31 beta‐thalassemia major females aged between 13 and 22 years and in 12 control females aged between 12 and 22 years. All were treated at Princess Rahma Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Northern Jordan between April 2001 and April 2003. Results: Of the 31 beta‐thalassemia major females, 13 (41.9%) had delayed puberty. Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian axis dysfunction was found in 15 patients (48.4%). Twelve patients (38.7%) had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and 5 (16.1%) had ovarian failure. High levels of serum ferritin were significantly higher in patients with delayed puberty. Conclusion: Pituitary and ovarian dysfunction are common problems in beta‐thalassemia major patients. The main possible cause is iron overload. This stresses the need for intensive and regular use of chelation therapy to prevent damage to the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian axis.