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Multitransfused children with thalassemia major do not have gallstones
Y Chawla1, B Sarkar, R K Marwaha
1Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Insights
Children with thalassemia major, a common anemia in North India, do not appear to be at increased risk for developing gall stones. This study found no evidence of gall stones in 64 children with thalassemia major.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Gall stones are frequently observed in children with hereditary spherocytosis and sickle cell anemia.
- Thalassemia is the most prevalent hemolytic anemia in North India.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of gall stones in children diagnosed with thalassemia major.
- To determine if thalassemia major predisposes children to gall stone formation.
Main Methods:
- Sonographic examination was used to assess for gall stones.
- The study included 64 multitransfused children with thalassemia major, aged 5-20 years.
Main Results:
- None of the studied children exhibited symptoms of biliary colic.
- No evidence of gall stones was detected via sonography in any participant.
- The findings indicate a lack of predisposition to gall stones in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Patients with thalassemia major are not prone to developing gall stones.
- This research challenges previous assumptions about gall stone incidence in hemolytic anemias.
Abstract:
Gall stones in children have been commonly described in hereditary spherocytosis and sickle cell anaemia. In North India thalassemia is the commonest haemolytic anaemia. We studied the incidence of gall stones sonographically in children with thalassemia major. Of the 64 multitransfused children with thalassemia major studied (age range 5-20 years) none had symptoms of biliary colic or evidence of gall stones on sonography. The study has demonstrated that patients with thalassemia major are not prone to develop gall stones.