Table 2. Comparison of disease severity parameters between patients receiving regular RBC transfusion with iron chelation (Group 1) and those who received a specific HbF inducer with infrequent RBC transfusion and iron chelation (Group II).
The table distinctly illustrates differences between patients exclusively undergoing regular transfusion combined with ICT and those receiving comprehensive treatment. Notably, patients reliant solely on transfusion exhibited more severe disease parameters. Further key observations include a 72% increase in transfusion frequency over time among the transfusion-only group, in stark contrast to a substantial 78.1% reduction in transfusion frequency in patients receiving proper treatment. The prevalence of splenectomies patients was also notably higher among those exclusively receiving transfusion, standing at 17%, compared to a considerably lower 5.3% among treatment recipients. Post-complications were more frequent among transfusion patients, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) (25%), one case of HbsAg, and four cases of skin reactions (blisters, body aches, rashes). In contrast, treatment patients reported minor consequences, such as temporary body pain in 5.3% of cases and skin complications (blisters, body aches, rashes) in 9.1% of cases. However, it is noteworthy that a majority of both transfusion (69.4%) and treatment (84.4%) patients did not experience any complications in our study.
HCV: hepatitis C virus; HbF: fetal hemoglobin; RCC: red cell concentrate
| Disease Severity Parameters | Group-I Numbers (%) | Group-II Numbers (%) | ||
| Anemia | Normal | 0 (0) | 4 (3) | |
| Mild | 8 (8) | 23 (17.4) | ||
| Moderate | 45 (45) | 72 (54.5) | ||
| Severe | 47 (47) | 33 (25) | ||
| Transfusion Frequency | Average RCC unit transfusion in 90 days | 4.8 | 1.3 | |
| Spleen Size | Normal | 4 (4) | 40 (30.3) | |
| Mild | 28 (28) | 41 (31.1) | ||
| Moderate | 46 (46) | 23 (17.4) | ||
| Severe | 5 (5) | 21 (15.9) | ||
| Splenectomy | Yes | 17 (17) | 7 (5.3) | |
| No | 83 (83) | 125 (94.7) | ||
| Hepatomegaly | Normal | 4 (4) | 14 (10.6) | |
| Mild | 32 (32) | 58 (43.9) | ||
| Moderate | 60 (60) | 36 (27.3) | ||
| Severe | 4 (4) | 24 (18.2) | ||
| Iron Overload | Normal iron level | 6 (6) | 28 (42.4) | |
| Mild | 8 (8) | 15 (22.7) | ||
| Moderate | 46 (46) | 14 (21.2) | ||
| Severe | 40 (40) | 9 (13.6) | ||
| Complications | No | 68 (69.4) | 112 (84.4) | |
| Yes | HCV | 25 (25.1) | 0 (0) | |
| HBsAg | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | ||
| Skin reactions | 4 (4.5) | 13 (9.1) | ||
| Bone pain | 0 (0) | 7 (5.3) | ||