INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CALCIUM–PHOSPHORUS AND IRON METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH β-THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Abstract

The article provides information about a research study investigating the levels of calcium-phosphorus metabolism markers and their relations with iron metabolism proteins in the blood serum of patients with β-thalassemia (β-TM) major. The research included analyses from 30 children aged 5-12 years who had regularly received blood transfusions from 2019 to 2023, with a control group of 15 healthy children of similar age. Alongside the general blood analysis parameters, the study measured the levels of iron, ferritin, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, ferroportin, hepcidin, and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) in the blood serum, comparing these with the control group. The study revealed that, in patients with beta-thalassemia major, the accumulation of iron and ferritin in the blood serum was associated with a decrease in hepcidin (p<0.001), while a deficiency in vitamin D (p<0.001) led to an increase in FGF-23 levels (p<0.05). The correlation analysis between the studied markers showed that an increase in FGF-23 levels in the blood serum not only affects calcium-phosphorus metabolism but also iron metabolism. The findings obtained may be significant for the diagnosis and treatment planning of beta-thalassemia major in the future.