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Toxic Effects Of Iron Not Responsible For Increased Susceptibility To Infections In Children With Beta-Thalassaemia Major
A DGReview of :"Neutrophil Apoptosis in Patients with beta-Thalassemia Major"
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
04/02/2003
By Veronica Rose
Desferrioxamine therapy and high serum ferritin levels in patients with beta-thalassaemia major do not enhance neutrophil cell death in vivo. Consequently, this cannot cause increased susceptibility to infections, say Turkish paediatricians.
Previous reports had questioned a possible increased susceptibility to infections among these patients due to toxic effects of iron on neutrophil functions and reticuloendothelial system dysfunction. Researchers at Izmir's Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine investigated the association between neutrophil apoptosis and frequency in the episodes of infection, desferrioxamine treatment and serum ferritin levels in 35 patients with beta- thalassaemia major.
The children were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of patients who were receiving desferrioxamine (DFO) while Group 2 included those who had not yet begun therapy. Researchers also recruited 15 healthy children as controls.
Hospital records provided information on the frequency of infection during one year. Flow cytometry (annexin V labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to assess neutrophil apoptosis in all patients.
There was no significant difference in the neutrophil count and percentage of apoptotic neutrophils between all groups, noted the researchers. However, evaluation of frequency in infection episodes indicated a significantly higher number among those receiving DFO, by comparison with other groups.
Analysis of the correlation between neutrophil apoptosis and frequency in episodes of infection, serum ferritin levels and neutrophil count of the patients according to groups revealed no noticeable correlation.
Paediatric Haematol Oncology 2003;20:3:237-243.
"Neutrophil Apoptosis in Patients with beta-Thalassemia Major"
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