Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of liver fibrosis and assess the risk factors for developing significant liver fibrosis in patients with Thalassemia Major (TM).
Methods: All patients with TM over the age of 10 years were included in the study.
Results: A total of 94 eligible patients underwent 2-D SWE. The median age was 26.7 years. The median of the average 5-year serum ferritin (5yrSF) and liver iron concentration (LIC) assessed by MRI T2* were 1326 µg/L and 6.7 mg/g dw, respectively. Hepatitis C and hepatitis B core antibodies were positive in 38% and 1% of the patients respectively. The proportion of patients with significant fibrosis was 60%. Male gender increased the risk of significant fibrosis (Odds ratio of 0.4; p = .0373). Additionally, the 5yrSF (p = .00661), the LIC (p = .0225) and the lowest LIC of the previous 5 years (p = .0211) were significant. In the multivariable logistic regression model, only 5yrSF (p = .0035) and gender (p = .00984) remained significant.
Conclusions: The risk of liver fibrosis is associated with iron overload and gender in patients with TM.
Keywords: Beta thalassemia major; iron overload; liver fibrosis; risk factors; ultrasound.