Title:Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients with β-Thalassemia Major
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Author(s): Akefeh Ahmadiafshar, Amir Ghadipasha, Noureddin Mousavinasab, Abdolreza Esmaeilzadeh and Kambiz Davari
Affiliation:
Keywords:
β-thalassemia major, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, natural killer cells.
Abstract: Objective: Several studies demonstrated some alterations in immune system of patients with β-thalassemia major. The aim of study was to investigate the function and number of lymphocyte subsets of
patients with β-thalassemia major.
Materials and Methods: Quantitative and qualitative assessment of cellular and humoral immune system
and population of natural killer lymphocytes in patients with β-thalassemia major and similar age and sex
matched healthy controls were done. Complete blood count and serum iron and ferritin levels were also
measured. Data was analyzed by SPSS (V.16) software.
Results: We did not find any alteration in number and function of B and T lymphocytes. However,
natural killer cells level in thalassemia group was significantly lower than control group (6.54±2.87% vs.
9.13±4.01%; P=0.006). Number of T helper cells in thalassemia patients with spelenectomy was
significantly lower than patients without splenectomy (31.8±6.55% vs. 40.3±9.2%; P=0.02).
Conclusion: In our study the patients with β-thalassemia major had lower natural killer (NK)
lymphocytes than healthy control.
