Bone and Joint Involvement in Beta Thalassemic Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Beta-thalassemia patients often experience bone and joint complications.
• There is a lack of specific guidelines for managing these issues in the Indian population.
• Understanding bone involvement is critical for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess bone and joint disease in Indian beta-thalassemia patients.
• To evaluate biochemical markers of bone metabolism and their correlation with symptoms.
• To determine the impact of physical activity on bone mineral density (BMD).

Main Methods:

• Study included 40 regularly transfused beta-thalassemia patients (5-18 years).
• Data collected via questionnaires on symptoms and physical activity (QAPACE).
• Serum biochemical parameters (Ca, P, ALP, Vit D, PTH, ferritin) and BMD (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Half of the patients reported bone/joint symptoms, most commonly leg pain.
• Osteopenia was detected in five patients, all over 10 years old.
• Low BMD correlated with lower pre-transfusion Hb (<9 g/dL) and sedentary lifestyles.

Conclusions:

• Pre-transfusion Hb >9 gm/dL is protective for bone health and BMD.
• Physical activity positively influences BMD in these patients.
• Low vitamin D levels contribute to bone/joint symptoms and require supplementation.