Evaluation of Reproductive Hormones in Patients with ?-Thalassemia Major in Misan Province, Iraq

Assessment of serum ferritin, FSH, LH, estradiol, testosterone levels in ?-thalassemia major patients. A total50 (30 male and 20 female) children with ?- thalassemia major patients with ages range 11- 16 years and 50age and sex matched healthy adolescents as control group were included in this study. The study subjectsdivided into 2 more subgroups: 11-13 years, and 14-16 years to measure mean serum ferritin, FSH, LH,testosterone, estradiol hormones. There was significant increase (P <0.05) in serum ferritin level in maleand female patients as compared to control groups. Male patients have significant decreased (P<0.05)serumlevels of FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol, while female patients have non-significant (P >0.05) highserum FSH and testosterone levels, but LH, estradiol levels were non-significant (P>0.05) lowas comparedto control. In age subgroup 11–13 years, male patients have significant (P<0.05) decreased reproductivehormones levels as compared to control, however in 14 – 16 years subgroups serum FSH,LH and estradiollevels in male patients were significantly decreased as compared to control (P<0.05), whereas,hormoneslevels in female patients didn’t show significant differences in comparison to female control in both agesubgroups (P>0.05). Serum ferritin had an inverse correlation with serum FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiolhormones levels. Patients with ?- thalassemia major have iron overload with inverse correlation betweengonadal hormones and serum ferritin.