Related Experiment Videos
Cortisol levels in children with haemoglobinopathies in north Jordan
N Bashir1, A F al-Hader, L al-Shareef
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid-Jordan.
Insights
Children with haemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia, show lower serum cortisol levels. This suggests a potential link between these blood disorders and hypoadrenalism in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- Haemoglobinopathies are inherited blood disorders affecting hemoglobin.
- Adrenal function in children with haemoglobinopathies is not well-established.
- Cortisol is a key hormone produced by the adrenal glands, crucial for stress response and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum cortisol levels in children diagnosed with various haemoglobinopathies.
- To determine if there is a significant difference in cortisol levels compared to healthy children.
- To explore a potential association between hypoadrenalism and specific haemoglobinopathies.
Main Methods:
- Serum cortisol levels were measured in 100 children aged 3-10 years.
- Participants included children with sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia minor, and alpha 2-thalassemia.
- Cortisol levels were compared to those of a control group of normal subjects.
Main Results:
- Mean serum cortisol levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in all tested haemoglobinopathy groups compared to controls.
- Cortisol level reduction ranged from 25% in sickle cell trait to 57% in alpha 2-thalassemia.
- This indicates a trend towards hypoadrenalism in children with these blood disorders.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a higher prevalence of hypoadrenalism in children with sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia minor, and alpha 2-thalassemia.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the association and understand the underlying mechanisms.
- Monitoring adrenal function may be important for pediatric patients with haemoglobinopathies.
Abstract:
Serum cortisol levels of 100 children 3-10 years old with various haemoglobinopathies were measured. The mean cortisol levels of sickle cell trait, sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia minor and alpha 2-thalassemia were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of normal subjects. The decrease in cortisol levels varied from 25 (in the sickle cell trait group) to 57 per cent (in the alpha 2-thalassemia group) of the mean cortisol levels of the control group. These results suggest the presence of hypoadrenalism and its possible association with the indicated haemoglobinopathies.