Assessment of Liver Enzymes, Calcium, and Ferritin in Beta- Thalassemia Patients

Abstract

This study attempts to estimate the association between liver enzyme, ferritin level and blood calcium level in patients suffering from β-thalassemia. For this purpose, a total of 50 healthy individuals without hereditary blood disorders and 75 patients with beta-thalassemia attended to at the Thalassemic Centre of in Al Kut city (Iraq) during September (2023) to the March (2024) were subjected for data collection and blood draining. In this study, we observed that a significant increase in the average levels of liver enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], and the levels of ferreting concentration, in the patients as compared to the healthy people. In terms of AST, ALT, and ALP, in intermedia and major β-thalassemia patient were significant increases (P<0.05) than in healthy individuals. However, there no significant changes (P>0.05) were detected in minima β-thalassemia than in healthy individuals in all age groups. As for serum calcium in minima, intermedia and major β-thalassemia patient were significant decrease (P<0.05) in patients than in healthy individuals. This study concluded that there were elevated levels in liver enzymes indicate that β-thalassemia patients are at increased risk of heart and liver dysfunction. Also elevated ALT is affected by increasing iron overload, as reflected by elevated serum ferritin. The patients with β-thalassemia will experience hypoparathyroidism where the absence of PTH synthesiswill decreasethe gastrointestinal tract's calcium absorption and lower serum calcium levels.