Prevalance of iron deficiency in thalassemia minor: a study from tertiary hospital

Conflicting data are available about iron metabolism in thalassemia minors. As iron deficiency prevails largely in India, a study of 150 people was conducted to assess the iron level of β thalassemia minor. The study population comprises of 59 males and 91 female who either attended outdoor services and with diagnosed thalassemia minor by hemoglobin high performance liquid chromatography or were the parents (diagnosed thalassemia minor) of β Thalassemia patients visiting daycare services for transfusion. 29.67% females and 3.38% males are found to be iron deficient. Thus we can conclude that iron deficiency is one of the common co-existing conditions in β thalassemia minors.