Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
The impact of iron overload and genotype on gonadal function in women with thalassaemia major
Nicos Skordis1, Maritsa Gourni, Constantinos Kanaris
1Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Makarios Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. nskordis@cytanet.com.cy
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of chronic iron overload and genotype on gonadal function in women with thalassaemia major.
Patients And Methods:
The study population consists of 101 women aged 15-48 years who were treated between 1981 and 1999. These women were divided into two groups according to their genotype: [A=no modifying genetic factor and B=presence of modifying factors], and into four groups according to their menstrual history: NM (normal menstruation), OLM (oligomenorrhea), PA (primary amenorrhea), and SA (secondary amenorrhea).
Results:
Women with NM maintained eumenorrhoea for 14.62 years, whereas those with SA did so for 6.94 years. The serial values of both FSH and LH after stimulation with GnRH were lower in women with SA and PA (p<0.05) compared to women with OLM and NM. The average value of the minimum, mean and maximum ferritin levels over a period of 20 years displayed an increasing trend from women with NM to those with SA and PA. The lower levels of ferritin in women in Group A did not protect them from developing SA. In addition women with SA, who belong to Group A, had a shorter duration of eumenorrhoea compared to the ones with SA who belong to Group B.
Conclusions:
Although the pathogenesis of gonadal dysfunction in thalassaemia is known to be the consequence of iron overload, this study demonstrates that genotype acts as an independent variable, contributing to the development of SA in thalassaemic women.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Oogenesis
Gonadal and Placental Hormones
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair growth — and...
Spermatogenesis
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
