Insulin resistance and β cell function in patients with β-thalassemia major

Iron overload is a common finding in chronically transfused β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients with possible effect on β cell function and insulin resistance. In this study we aimed to evaluate glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and β cell function in β-TM patients. A total of 78 transfusion-dependent β-TM patients and 40 age and sex matched normal children were included. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed in all subjects. Fasting plasma insulin level, insulin resistance index (IRI) and β cell function index (BFI) were also estimated. β-Thalassemia major patients had significantly more abnormal OGTT than the control group. β-Thalassemia major patients had significantly higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) fasting blood sugar and IRI than the control group. Findings between β-thalassemia (β-thal) patients, with and without abnormal OGTT results, were also compared; β-thal patients with abnormal OGTT had significantly higher duration of chelation therapy, serum ferritin levels, AST, ALT and increased IRI and decreased BFI in comparison to patients with normal OGTT. Abnormal glucose metabolism is common in β-TM patients with chelation therapy and multiple transfusions which are attributable to impaired β cells' function and increased insulin resistance.