Estimation of Microalbuminuria in Children with Beta Thalassaemia Major: A Cross-sectional Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. G Aruna,
South Hospital Complex, Dharamaram College Post, Near NIMHANS, Bengaluru-560029, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: agowdra@yahoo.com
Introduction: Improvement in the standard of care of Thalassaemia by regular blood transfusion increases life expectancy. Multiple transfusions with concurrent iron overload and chronic anaemia, leading to tissue-level hypoxemia, cause significant renal dysfunction. Microalbuminuria is a sensitive marker of glomerular damage, and studies in thalassemic children have demonstrated variable prevalence rates of microalbuminuria.
Aim: To study the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its association with clinical and laboratory parameters in children with Beta Thalassaemia Major (BTM).
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2018 to June 2019 at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangaluru, Karnataka,India. A total of 155 children with Beta Thalassaemia Major (BTM) aged 2-18 years, attending the Thalassaemia Day Care Centre, were included in the study. Their demographic details such as age, gender, clinical parameters like frequency of transfusions, type of chelation therapy, height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), organomegaly, and laboratory parameters like serum creatinine, ferritin, pretransfusion Hb%, and Urinary Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio (UMCR) were studied as per a predesigned proforma. The association between microalbuminuria with clinical and laboratory parameters was evaluated using the independent sample T-test or Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square/Fischer’s-exact test.
Results: A total of 155 children with BTM were studied. In the present study, out of a total of 155 patients, microalbuminuria was found in 66 (42.6%). A significant increase in the prevalence of microalbuminuria was observed as the age advanced, as the frequency of blood transfusions increased, with low pretranfusion haemoglobin (g%), and with elevated serum ferritin.
Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was found to be 42.6%. Screening for microalbuminuria is recommended in all children with beta thalassaemia major for the early detection of renal dysfunction, prevention of disease progression, and improvement in the quality of their lives.
Blood transfusion, Early biomarker, Haemoglobin, Renal dysfunction, Transfusion-dependent thalassaemia
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/64161.19211
Date of Submission: Mar 23, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Oct 07, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Jan 13, 2024
Date of Publishing: Mar 01, 2024
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
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• Plagiarism X-checker: Sep 18, 2023
• Manual Googling: Oct 13, 2023
• iThenticate Software: Jan 11, 2024 (13%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
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