Thalassemia is the most prevalent
single gene defect in human beings worldwide. Repeated
blood transfusions along with
chelation therapy are mainstay of treatment in
thalassemia patients. However these recurrent
blood transfusions result in
iron overload which along with
chelation therapy causes deterioration of liver function. Aim of the study was to evaluate the liver function tests in β-
thalassemia major patients. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2017 to December 2017. In this study, 50 diagnosed patients of β
Thalassemia major (Group A) and 50 apparently healthy children (Group B) of both sexes were selected from the department of Paediatrics, Dhaka medical college. The study parameters were serum
ferritin,
bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP. The results were compared statistically between groups. Serum
ferritin level (mean±SD) in thalassemic major patients in Group A (890±446.38 microgram/L) which is significantly higher above normal level. Serum
bilirubin in Group A (3.27±2.62 mg/dl) and in Group B (0.48±0.24 mg/dl), Serum ALT in Group A (53.06±34.0 U/L) and in Group B (16.70±4.81 U/L), AST in Group A (84.56±33.54 U/L) and in Group B (11.60±2.72 U/L) and ALP levels in Group A (422.42±226.99 IU/L) and in Group B (221.86±80.54 IU/L). All the values were significantly higher (p<0.001) in β-
thalassemia patient than that of normal children. This study concludes that liver function parameters are significantly higher in β
thalassemia major patients. So routine evaluation of liver function tests may be advocated for thalassemic patients to predict early onset of hepatic dysfunction.