Evaluation Of Exocrine And Endocrine Function Of Pancreas In Children With Thalassemia Major:

Adel Fahim Shaaban

This study aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of pancreatic damage in patients with [3 - Thalassemia major by evaluating the exocrine and endocrine functions of pancreas in thalassemic children.The study was done on forty (40) children with thalassemia major and were divided into two groups.Group I : Thalassemic group with intact spleenGroup II : thalassemic group without spleen.- In addition to fifteen (15) children were selected as control group.- The endocrine pancreatic functions were evaluated by determination of the following parameters.- Oral glucose tolerance test.- C- peptide levels : fasting level and 30 minutes after glucose ingestion. - Insulin levels : fasting level and 30 minutes after glucose ingestion- The exocrine pancreatic function was evaluated by determination oflipase level.- serum iron, ferritin and total iron binding capacity were estimated to assess the iron status of thalassemic children.The results of our study showed the following :1-Normal glucose tolerance in thalassemic children until the age of 15 years.2-Due to hypertransfusion therapy the iron and ferritin levels were significantly higher in thalassemic children than the control group.3-The total iron binding capacity was significantly lower in thalassemic groups than the control.