Abstract
Glucose tolerance(GT) and β-pancreatic function(PF) were both eva luated transversally in 18 thalassemia major children (Th) on i.m. or s.c. injection of DFO by OGTT. A longitudinal study was performed on 5 of them. Our data show a progressive impairment of GT (po sitive correlations between glycemic (BG) values and age, GT reduced in 25% of 6-10 y. Th and in 60% of 10-16 y. Th). This seems to depend on: 1) a progressive impairment of PF (slight insulin(IRI) increase in Th over 6 years with respect to control children (C), presence of positive correlations between IRI, C-peptide (Cp) and IRI/BG ratio values and age only in C); 2) a precocious impairment of IRI metabolism (greater IRI and IRI/Cp ratio basal values in 6-10 y. Th than in C, positive correlations between BG and IRI both as basal and as 30 min. values in C and between BG and Cp as 30 min. values in Th) probably secondary to a precocious liver damage (positive correlations between 60 and 120 min. BG values and some liver function tests). Only the PF impairment seems to be reversible and ferritin-dependent (positive correlations between variations in BG and IRI values and variations in ferritin (FE) values in the longitudinal study, in absence of any difference in individual sensitivity; absence of any correlation between variations in liver function tests and variations in FE levels).
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Cavallo, L., Licci, D., Acquafredda, A. et al. Glucose tolerance and β-pancreatic function in polytransfused thalassemia major children. A transversal and longitudinal study. Pediatr Res 18, 1219 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00110