Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
β-Thalassemia is an inhereted hemoglobin disorder characterized by the absence or reduced synthesis of the β-globin chain. Several immunological defects can be found in patients with β-thalassaemia. Increased IL-8 level was documented in patients with β-thalassaemia and it is probably due to overstimulation of macrophages.
OBJECTIVE:
Evaluation of serum levels of IL-8, soluble IL-2 Receptor, and serum ferritin in the splenectomized and the non-splenectomized β-thalassemia major patients.
METHODS:
A cross sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with homozygous β-thalassemia major who were attending Al Karama Teaching hospital from May 2011 to Auguest 2011. Place of work was Al-Kadhmia and Al Karama teaching hospital. Patients were divided into two groups; thirty splenectomized, thirty non-splenectomized, and thirty healthy age and sex matched as control group.
RESULT:
The mean level of IL-8 was increased in both groups of thalassaemia with significantly higher in the splenectomized 333.06±255.50 pg/ml compare to the non-splenectomized 118.61±46.59 pg/ml and the control 38.39±9.52 pg/ml , P-value<0.05. The mean level of sIL-2R was not increased above the reference range in the control subjects, the non-splenectomized and the splenectomized, which was 732.96+28.96 pg/ml, 723.42±74.15pg/ml and 777.38±86.93pg/ml respectively .The mean serum ferritin level in the splenectomized was 2050.1 ng/ml which was significantly higher compared to the non- splenectomized 1212.2 ng/ml, P-value<0.05. There was significant correlation between IL-8 and serum ferritin, P-value<0.05 while there was no significant correlation between s IL-2R and serum ferritin, in both groups of Thalassaemia P value> 0.05.
CONCLUSION:
- β-thalassemia major patients had increased level of IL- 8 which was more prominent in splenectomized patients, while no increase in IL-2R levels in both groups of Thalassemia.
-IL-8 levels correlated with ferritin levels, while no significant correlation between IL-2R levels and ferritin levels in both groups of Thalassaemia.
- Splenectomized thalassaemic patients display higher ferritin levels compared to the non-splenectomized.
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