Extended Abstract

Introduction

Bthalassemia syndromes are the most prevalent quantitative hereditary hemoglobinopathies in the world. One of the most debilitating complications in thalassemia patients is osteoporosis and osteopenia which predisposes them to skeletal pain and pathologic fractures. Osteoporosis was more prevalent in patients with thalassemia intermedia compared to thalassemia major. Osteoporosis in thalassemia is a multifactorial and complex disorder and different factors such as accelerated hematopoiesis, marrow expansion, presence of diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypogonadism, delay in sexual maturation and excess iron have been identified as main etiologies. Regular transfusion, hormone replacement therapy, adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D and physical activity could reduce the rate of osteoporosis in these patients.Nowadays bisphosphonates have been used to manage thalassemia – associated osteoporosis. Another drug is Denosumab or Prolia which is a strong inhibitor of bone resorption and a monoclonal inhibitor against RANKL. The efficacy of this drug in recent articles has been studied.

Ethical Considerations

Compliance with ethical guidelines

All ethical principles were considered in this article.

Funding

This study was supported by Shahid Beheshti University

Authors' contributions

The author had writing standards based on the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Publishers.

Conflicts of interest

The author declare no conflicts of interest.