Impaired renal tubular function in pediatric patients with β-thalassemia major

Introduction: β-thalassemia major due to ineffective erythrocyte life span leads to severe anemia requiring regular ‎transfusion, which it can lead to major organs damage. Renal damage can be attributed to chronic anemia, ‎iron over load and or defferoxamin toxicity. The object of this study was to analyze renal tubular and glomerular function in pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia major. ‎ Materials and Methods: ‎39 patients with β -thalassemia major whose mean ages were 11.8 yr and 22 sex and age matched healthy ‎children as control group were studied. Blood ‎and urine samples were obtained for measuring biochemical markers. Urinary N-Acetyl-β.D.glucosaminidase (NAG) and urine NAG to creatine ratio (U ‎NAG/ Cr ratio) were measured Results: No significant differences were found between serum BUN, creatinine, and also creatinine clearance between ‎both groups. Also there were no significant differences in urine osmolality between patients and ‎controls. Urine NAG was significantly higher in thalassemic patients than control group (p< 0.000). There was positive ‎relation between urinary ‎NAG‎ and duration of illness(r = 0314, p