Abstract

In this study, 47 patients with beta thalassemia aged 5-20 years that are followed at SSK Tepecik Pediatric Haematology Unit, have been evaluated in respect to liver histopathology for chronic active hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. ALT, ferritin, mean pretransfusion Hb, mean annual transfusion number and the beginning age of chelation therapy were investigated. Mean ALT, ferritin and maximum ferritin levels were detected 62.6 ±28U/L, 4121±1839 ng/ml and 4501±2843 ng/ml, respectively. HBsAg positivity in 8.3%, HBV-DNA positivity in 30 and anti-HCV positivity in 13.3% of the patients have been observed. The liver biopsy was performed in 47 cases. Varying degrees of parenchymal and mesenchymal iron accumulation were determined in all cases, fibrosis, cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis was found to be 93.6%, 21.27% and 23.4% respectively. There were significant statistical correlation between hemosiderosis, fibrosis and maximum ferritin values. Chronic active hepatitis was more frequent in patients who had suffered HCV infections, rather than HBV infections. In conclusion, both hepatotrop infections and hemosiderozis have an important role on liver histopatlology. This, the liver biopsies should be performed periodically in the thalassemic patients as a guide to prognosis and to the efficacy of therapy.