الفهرس 
AcknowledgementsOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Growth failure is a major problem in children with thalassemia major. It is multifactorial related to chronic anemia, chelation toxicity, and iron associated endocrinopathies. Little attention has historically been given to the role nutrition may play to the observed growth deficit in children with thalassemia. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the nutritional status of B-TM patients attending AUCH and to detect the possible contributing factors. The study included 246 B-TM patients 128 males and 118 females. The results showed high prevalence of growth retardation among these patients, (64.6%) of patients were below 5th percentile for H /A %. High prevalence of vitamin deficiency manifestations, xeroderma with scaling ± sparse hair, which were detected in (85%) of patients. Marked low pre transfusional Hb with high serum ferritin levels were detected in the majority of patients. It was also found that (75.2%) of B-TM patients received lower than the expected nutrient intake It is concluded that children with beta thalassemia major had delayed physical growth possibly secondary to iron overload. As well, an inadequate nutrient intake is probably another VERY important cause of growth failure. Therefore, general malnutrition may be the standard pathway in children previously described as showing abnormal growth.