Beta-thalassemia major patients are at increased risk of complications including endocrinopathies and bone disease due to iron overload. So, this study aimed to assess the growth parameters, serum levels of 25-OH-vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorous in children with beta-thalassemia major. This was a case-control study that included 55 children with beta-thalassemia major compared with 30 sex- and age-matched healthy children that served as a control group. All enrolled children were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination including anthropometric measurements, and laboratory investigations including complete blood count, serum ferritin, levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, and 25-OH-vitamin D. Body mass index was statistically significantly lower in the thalassemic group (P < 0.001). It was observed that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in thalassemic patients than in controls (P value < .0001). The mean serum 25-OH-vitamin D levels were 19.84 ± 5.79 ng/ml and 44.98 ± 5.77 ng/ml, respectively; 22 cases (40%) had insufficient vitamin D, and 5 cases (9%) had deficient vitamin D. Regarding serum calcium and phosphorous, there was no significant difference between the thalassemic and control groups. Children with beta-thalassemia major had low body mass index and metabolic abnormality in the form of lower serum levels of vitamin D that signify the importance of therapeutic interventions.

中文翻译：

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埃及重型β-地中海贫血儿童血清维生素D水平评估

β-地中海贫血主要患者由于铁过载而出现并发症的风险增加，包括内分泌病和骨病。因此，本研究旨在评估重型 β-地中海贫血儿童的生长参数、血清 25-OH-维生素 D、钙和磷水平。这是一项病例对照研究，其中包括 55 名患有重型 β-地中海贫血的儿童，而 30 名性别和年龄匹配的健康儿童作为对照组。所有登记的儿童都接受了完整的病史采集、临床检查（包括人体测量）和实验室检查（包括全血细胞计数、血清铁蛋白、血清钙、磷和 25-OH-维生素 D 的水平）。体重指数在统计学上显着低于地中海贫血组（P < 0.001）。据观察，地中海贫血患者的维生素 D 水平显着低于对照组（P 值 < .0001）。平均血清 25-OH-维生素 D 水平分别为 19.84 ± 5.79 ng/ml 和 44.98 ± 5.77 ng/ml；22例（40%）维生素D不足，5例（9%）维生素D缺乏。关于血清钙和磷，地中海贫血组与对照组无显着差异。患有重型 β-地中海贫血的儿童体重指数低，并且以血清维生素 D 水平较低的形式出现代谢异常，这表明治疗干预的重要性。5例（9%）维生素D缺乏。关于血清钙和磷，地中海贫血组与对照组之间无显着差异。患有重型 β-地中海贫血的儿童体重指数低，并且以血清维生素 D 水平较低的形式出现代谢异常，这表明治疗干预的重要性。5例（9%）维生素D缺乏。关于血清钙和磷，地中海贫血组与对照组之间无显着差异。患有重型 β-地中海贫血的儿童体重指数低，并且以血清维生素 D 水平较低的形式出现代谢异常，这表明治疗干预的重要性。