Sexual maturation and adrenal function in girls with thalassemia

摘要: Adrenal steroid production was evaluated in 12 thalassemic girls aged between 18 and 22 years at stage P1 of sexual maturation according to Tanner. The values found these patients were compared with those normal the same age P4–5 maturation. Pregnelone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandosterone sulfate, progesterone, 17-OH-P, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone estradiol be significantly reduced (p < 0.001) group, while Cortisol levels showed a slight but not statistically significant reduction. Plasma ferritin greatly increased highly correlation coefficient when plotted against each hormone. present results suggest that impaired adrenal function plays an important role determining delayed almost always this disorder may due iron overload.