Demographic and clinical characteristics, and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in individuals with major beta-thalassemia in Guilan province, Iran

Afshin Shafaghi; Samaneh Toloui; Adel Bhaghersalimi; Mercedeh Enshaei; Bahram Darbandi

doi:10.61186/jcbior.5.2.283

Authors

Afshin Shafaghi Department of Internal Medicine, GI Cancer Screening and Prevention Research Center, School of Medicine, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Samaneh Toloui Pediatric Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Adel Bhaghersalimi Pediatric Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Mercedeh Enshaei Pediatric Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Bahram Darbandi Pediatric Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6100-6332

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61186/jcbior.5.2.283

Keywords:

Beta-thalassemia, Helicobacter pylori, Splenectomy, Iron chelator

Abstract

Beta-thalassemia major is a severe genetic blood disorder requiring complex management, with patients facing multiple chronic health challenges related to iron metabolism and treatment strategies. The current study investigated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antigen and related clinical characteristics in beta-thalassemia major patients. This cross-sectional study involved 66 beta-thalassemia major patients and 36 of their non-cohabiting family. H. pylori infection was assessed using the stool antigen test via ELISA, and clinical and demographical data of patients was recorded. The mean age of patients was 36.72±9.46 years and for their family members was 41.54±12.46 (P <0.05). Twenty-eight (42.4%) of patients and 11 (30.6%) of their family members were males (P >0.05). The mean levels of hemoglobin and ferritin were 8.36±0.84 g/dL and 2108.63±1741.93 ng/mL, respectively. Splenectomy was performed in 59.1% of patients (mean age at procedure 15.59±9.50 years). Deferiprone was the most common iron chelator (45.5%), and O⁺ was the predominant blood group (33.3%). Statistically significant differences were observed in iron chelator and blood group distributions (P <0.001). The findings illustrated no H. pylori antigen was detected in participants. The analysis of H. pylori antigen revealed no positive results in any of the participants, indicating an absence of H. pylori infection in major beta-thalassemia patients.

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