The Effect of Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patient’s Serum on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Viability

Abstract

Iron overload is a major complication in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients. Chronic oxidative stress from iron overload may lead to cellular damage and viability. This is a cross-sectional study. Transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients aged ⩾18 years old were enrolled. Transfusion-dependent thalassemia patient’s serum and normal volunteer’s serum were separately incubated with healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The cell viability was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Sixty-nine TDT patients and 22 healthy controls were enrolled. The mean of PBMCs viability after incubation with serum from TDT patients was lower than that with the controls (88.65% vs 103.56% at 24 hours, 78.77% vs 112.04%% at 48 hours, and 71.18% vs 132.16%% at 72 hours, respectively). High serum ferritin level (correlation −0.29, P < .05) and white blood cell (WBC) count negatively affected cell viability (correlation −2.86, P = .05). From multivariate analysis, serum ferritin level is the only significant risk factor that is independently associated with cell viability (correlation −11.42, P < .001). Our findings showed that TDT patient’s serum causes decreased cell viability. Serum ferritin level was a significant independent factor influencing cell viability.

COVID-19 infection In Beta Thalassemia Major: Case series

“…Therefore, those patients are more prone to respiratory compromise than normal population. Contrary, the available data hypothesized that beta-chain changes in thalassemia patients might have a protective role against covid-19 infection [22][23][24] . While splenectomy, a common intervention in thalassemia patients, was thought to play a role in pulmonary hypertension, its role in the progression of COVID-19 infections in Thalassemia patients still vague.…”

A New Perspective for Potential Organ Damage Due to Iron-Mediated Oxidation in Thalassemia Major Patients

“…In patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, erythrocyte transfusion is the most important step in the treatment. However, as a result of oxidative reactions that occur due to excessive iron accumulation resulting from regular blood transfusion, irreversible damage may occur in many organs [ 9 ]. In this study, the increase in TOS levels after transfusion indicates the presence of iron-mediated oxidative stress in line with the literature.…”

“…Irreversible organ damage occurs in many organs as a result of oxidative reactions occurring due to excess iron in patients with major thalassemia [ 9 ]. Although iron accumulation is tried to be prevented by chelation therapy, the main problem is organ damage caused by oxidation.…”