Frequency of iron deficiency anaemia in first degree relatives of beta thalassaemia major patients

Objective: to find out frequency of iron deficiency anaemia in first degree relatives beta thalassaemia major patients. subjects & methods: this is a comparative and non-interventional study. it was carried out in fatimid foundation and sundus foundation,lahore between january 2008 to june 2008. a total of 300 subjects were taken. out of which 200 subjects were first degree relatives of beta thalassaemia major patients and 100 were normal control subjects. complete blood count with peripheral smear was done. serum iron,serum tibc,serum ferritin,haemoglobin electrophoresis and hba2 estimation were carried out. results: there were 93 males and 107 females of thalassemia minor between 18-50 years of age. normal or increased level of serum ferritin was found in 186 subjects and low level of serum ferritin (iron deficiency anemia) was found in 14 subjects with range <10 ng/ml. conclusion: the percentage of iron deficiency anaemia patients among the relatives of beta thalassaemia major patients was 7%.