![Respiratory Rate 28 brpmANTHROPOMETRYHead circumference 48.5 cms [95thcentile]Height 68.3 cms [below 5thcentile]Weight 6.5 kgs [below 5thcentile]Mid arm circumference 12.5 cmsWeight/ height -2 SD (80%) *According to Gomez classification: Required weight 10kgs (6.5/10 * 100 = 65% ) therefore, grade 2 PCM](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/presentation1-110617080813-phpapp01/85/Thalassemia-Case-presentation-26-320.jpg)
![Signs and SymptomsChildren born with thalassemia major are normal at birth, but develop severe hemolytic anemia*and related symptoms during the first year of birthFatigue PallorFailure to thrive Poor feedingShortness of breath Recurrent feverJaundice Bone deformities*Hepatomegaly*Splenomegaly[all of which were present in our patient]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/presentation1-110617080813-phpapp01/85/Thalassemia-Case-presentation-47-320.jpg)
Thalassemia Case presentation
- 2. Clinico-Pathological ConferenceDEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS
- 4. HISTORY
- 5. Demographic DataName: Baby NaseebaFathers Name: AlladinoAge: 16 monthsSex: FemaleAddress: MirpurSakroPresent address: Jumma Goth Korangi 6Mode of Admission: OPDDate of Admission: 10th May, 2011; 12pmInformant: Aunty
- 6. Presenting ComplaintPatient presented with Pallor -1monthDifficulty in breathing -5daysBaby Naseeba
- 7. History of Presenting ComplaintNaseeba was completely alright at 6months of age, after which it was noticed that she had pallor and difficulty in breathing. She was taken to various doctors who gave multiple drugs but the condition remained the same, so she was brought to Karachi and taken to a local hospital, where she underwent a blood CBC which showed severe anemia.
- 8. From there, she was taken to Civil hospital, where electrophoresis was done and showed the following…*
- 10. At 8 months of age, she was given a blood transfusion and was sent home.Pre transfusion Hb : 3.3 g/dlPost transfusion Hb: 9.5 g/dl
- 11. 4 months back (at 1 year of age) she was taken to another hospital and again received a transfusion.Pre transfusion Hb : 3.0 g/dlPost transfusion Hb : 11.1 g/dlThroughout this time, her health had deteriorated and she developed the initial complaints again, and was eventually brought to JMCH.
- 12. SYSTEMIC REVIEW
- 13. PAST HISTORYMedical: She was admitted at Civil hospital on 2nd May,2011, where she was diagnosed and treated as a case of pneumonia.Blood transfusions received (twice)No surgical history, accidents or injury.
- 14. DRUG HISTORYBlood transfusionFolic acidBactroban (topical skin ointment)
- 15. BIRTH HISTORY
- 16. NUTRITIONAL HISTORYPre lacteal feed in the form of honey was givenExclusive breast feeding was started within 1hour of birth Complimentary feed started at 5monthsPresent diet: Calories:Un diluted cow milk(375 ml) 240Bananas 4 (80 x 4) 240Bowl of porridge 160 ________ Total: 640 Cal ________Should be taking a minimum of 12oo calories.
- 17. DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORYGross motor: Sitting without support, Stands with supportFine motor: Pincer grasp presentSpeech and hearing: Responds to her name and loud noises, and babbles.Personal & Social: Irritable; shows fear of strangersImpression: Slightly delayed milestones (10months)
- 18. IMMUNIZATIONBCG and 2 doses of pentavalent
- 19. FAMILY HISTORYNo known family illnesses.Mother has had 4 miscarriagesFather alive and healthyGrandparents alive and healthy.
- 20. SOCIOECNOMIC HISTORYEnvironment:1 room house, not cemented, poorly ventilated, 6 residents, unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, no pets, consume water from hand pump.Parents are uneducated;Earning insufficient.
- 21. Can you conclude what she was suffering from?Patient is a known case of “Thalassemia Major” with inadequate transfusion; And Secondary malnutrition*
- 22. EXAMINATION
- 23. GENERAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONPatient is an ill looking child, appears to be comfortably sitting on bed, irritable in behavior.Cannula placed in right hand.VITALS
- 24. Temperature 98°F
- 25. Pulse 112 bpm
- 26. Respiratory Rate 28 brpmANTHROPOMETRYHead circumference 48.5 cms [95thcentile]Height 68.3 cms [below 5thcentile]Weight 6.5 kgs [below 5thcentile]Mid arm circumference 12.5 cmsWeight/ height -2 SD (80%) *According to Gomez classification: Required weight 10kgs (6.5/10 * 100 = 65% ) therefore, grade 2 PCM
- 27. Pustules on neck and back of scalpHair thin, scanty, easily pluckibleForehead shows frontal and parietal bossingTongue slightly coatedCornea shiny and transparent, normal conjunctiva
- 28. Anemia +++Jaundice +Mouth ulcersLymphadenopathyEdema LeukonychiaKoilonyciaCyanosisNegative
- 31. Respiratory: Cardiovascular, CNS: NO SIGNIFICANTGenitourniary: FINDINGSMuskuloskeletal:
- 32. Investigations/Management*Hb before blood transfusion = 4.5g/dlMultiple blood transfusionsHb after blood transfusion = 12.0g/dl
- 33. Follow up ManagementRegular CBC to check hemoglobin statusMonitoring vitalsMonitoring of growth & complicationsImmunzation for 3rdPentavalentFolic Acid Supplements
- 34. Advice given to family:Regular checkupsNutritional care Screening of subsequent pregnancy When to receive chelation therapyImportance of hepatitis B vaccination
- 35. DISCUSSION
- 36. An introduction to thalassemia..“Thalassemias are a group of heterogeneous disorders caused by mutations that decrease the rate of synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains that constitute hemoglobin, as a result causing deficiency of hemoglobin and secondary red cell abnormalities”
- 37. Disease burdenAprox. 1.5% of the world's population are carriers of β Thalassemia.The Southeast Asia Region accounts for about 50% of the world's carriers.Prevalence of Beta Thalassemia major is 5-7% in Pakistan.
- 38. PathophysiologyHemoglobin is made of 2 genesAlphaBetaThalassemia occurs when there is a defect in a gene that helps control production of these proteins
- 39. Beta Thalassemia SYMBOLISM+: Indicates diminished, but some production of globin chain by gene:+
- 40. 0 :Indicates no production of globin chain by gene:0
- 41. Gene deletions
- 42. Clinical and Genetic ClassificationClinical and Genetic ClassificationGene deletionsRobbins
- 44. There are 2 major types according to the type of gene defect in two main forms namely: MajorMinorMajor occurs if both parents have a defected gene
- 46. Beta thalassemia majorEtiology: inherited autosomal recessive disorderManifests clinically in homozygous stateHeterozygous state may show minor hematological abnormality
- 47. Signs and SymptomsChildren born with thalassemia major are normal at birth, but develop severe hemolytic anemia*and related symptoms during the first year of birthFatigue PallorFailure to thrive Poor feedingShortness of breath Recurrent feverJaundice Bone deformities*Hepatomegaly*Splenomegaly[all of which were present in our patient]
- 49. ComplicationsEndocrineGrowth RetardationDelayed Puberty & Hypogonadism Disturbances In Carbohydrate MetabolismHypothyroidism Hypo ParathyroidismFertility ProblemsOsteoporosis. Cardiac*Leading cause of death and one of the main causes of morbidity.Even after significant effects on heart muscle, aggressive iron chelation can restore myocardial function to normality.The regular assessment of cardiac status helps physicians to recognize the early stages of heart disease and allows for prompt intervention.
- 51. Chelation therapy i.e Deferral
- 52. management of cardiac complicationsinfectious diseases management
- 53. management of endocrine complicationspsychological, life style & general health care concernsgeneral & genetic counseling
- 54. splenectomy
- 56. gene therapy*Guidelines to begin transfusion..(i)Confirmed laboratory diagnosis of thalassaemia major;(ii) Laboratory criteria: Hb < 7g/dl on 2 occasions, > 2 weeks apart (excluding all other contributorycauses such as infections) or(iii) Laboratory and clinical criteria, including:- Hb > 7g/dl with:- Facial changes- Poor growth- Fractures, and- Extramedullaryhaematopoiesis
- 57. Transfusion programsRecommended treatment for thalassaemia major involves:lifelong regular blood transfusions, administered every two to five weeks, to maintain the pre-transfusion hemoglobin level above 9-10.5 g/dl.A higher target pre-transfusion hemoglobin level of 11-12 g/dl appropriate for patients with heart disease or other medical conditions.
- 58. The post-transfusion Hb should not be greater than 14-15g/dl and should be monitored to assess rate of fall in the haemoglobin level between transfusions, in evaluating the effects of changes in the transfusion regimen, the degree of hypersplenism, or complications of transfusion.
- 59. Packed cells are recommended; 15-20 mL/kg Body WeightChelating agents are used to prevent and treat hemosiderosis which may result from repeated transfusions
- 60. Iron Chelation TherapyWHEN TO INITIATE:After 10 to 20 transfusionsFerritin > 1000g/lLiver iron content > 3.2 mg/g DRY WEIGHTAge more or equal to 3 years
- 63. Deferasirox (Exjade, Icl670)PROGNOSISQuality of life can drastically improve by supertansfusion and chelation therapyBone marrow transplant, if possible, is curative.
- 64. Splenectomy should be considered when:Annual blood requirements exceed 200 cc/kg/yr.
- 65. Splenic enlargement is accompanied by symptoms such as left upper quadrant pain or early satiety.
- 66. Leucopenia or thrombocytopenia causing clinical problems (e.g. recurrent bacterial infection or bleeding).
- 68. 2.Doctors lack Of knowledgeTake home message..1.Negative attitude towards prognosis of thalassemics5.Counsel parents for abortion3.Hepatitis B Vaccines & Hepatitis C Screening4.Pre marital counseling
Editor's Notes
- #19: * Vaccines included in pentavalent
- #35: “Hereditary disorders that can result in moderate to severe anemia”Basic defect is reduced production of selected globin chains
- #42: Reduced synthesis of beta globin leads in inadequate HbA formation, therefore , MCHC is low, cells appear hypochromic, microcytic. Unpaired alpha chains aggregate and ppt in cells causing membrane damage, which is enough to cause extravascularhemolysis. Erythroblasts in bone marrow are susceptible to damage. Ineffective erythropoiesis causes increased abs of iron which leads to iron overload.
- #44: Inheritance of hemoglobin genes from parents with thalassemia trait. As illustrated, the couple has one chance in four that a child will inherit two thalassemia genes. The child would have a severe form of thalassemia (thalassemia major or thalassemia intermedia). The severity varies, often significantly. The nature of the particular thalassemia genes greatly influences the clinical course of the disorder.
- #46: *(due to xs breakdown of rbc) * because of extramedullaryhemaotopoiesis
- #47: Diagnosis of homozygous thalassemia may be suggested by finding thal minor (Hb A2 >3.4%) in both parentsComplications of chorionic villi sampling
- #49: This prevents chronic hypoxemia and reduces compensatory marrow hyperplasia,prevents secondary bone changes, hypervolemia,HTN,
- #50: *gene therapy :Gene therapy of genetic diseases affecting the hematopoietic system is based on the transplantation of a patient’s own bone marrow cells that have been corrected by inserting a new copy of a normal gene. In the case of severe thalassaemia, transplantation of autologous hematopoietic cells, genetically corrected to express normal level of haemoglobin, would provide the advantage over the conventional transplantation to cure virtually all patients, without donor limitation and reducing the risk of rejection or graft-versus-host disease associated with allogeneic transplantation. A functional ß-globin gene was inserted in patient’s cells using as shuttle a modified virus derived by HIV (lentiviral vector). The vector is able to enter in the cell DNA and deliver the new globin gene in between the other genes of the cell
- #53: *use of hydroxyurea
- #55: Complications of desferioxamine: Local irritation ,Sensorineural hearing loss Pseudo-ricketsMetaphyseal changesFlat vertebra Renal impairmentPneumonitisHypotension Cataracts Night blindnessReduction in vision field Decreased visual acquityPigmentary retinopathy,Mode of action.
- #56: Precisely, this treatment does not involve blood transfusion, but the transfusion of red blood cells. Thalassaemics are only short of red blood cells but they make the other parts of the blood quite normally. Blood transfusion should be arranged to keep the child’s hemoglobin in the normal range (between 11 – 14 g/dl). So thalassaemics should be transfused when the hemoglobin is around 70% and it should be raised to around 100%.
- #57: *when is bone marrow transplantation considered?* Complication of splenectomy