Skin diseases in patients with β-thalassemia major

Background β‐Thalassemia major affects multiple organs and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The goal of this analysis was to document the frequency of skin diseases among patients with β‐thalassemia major. Methods A sample of 78 patients with β‐thalassemia major was recruited and interviewed at the thalassemia clinic between April and June 2008. A dermatologist completed a skin examination of each patient and recorded any skin disease present. The patients’ laboratory results and treatment modalities were recorded from the charts. Results Sixty‐five (83.3%) of the 78 patients examined had a diagnosed skin disease: pruritus (37.2%), xerosis (34.6%), scars (24.4%), ephelides (23.1%), skin irritation/erythema caused by deferoxamine pump (12.8%), idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (6.4%), pityriasis alba (6.4%), tinea infections (5.1%), verruca vulgaris (5.1%), urticaria (3.8%), hyperhidrosis, contact dermatitis, and acne (2.6%), necrobiosis lipoidica (1.3%), melasma (1.3%), and others (14.1%). Pruritus and xerosis increased in frequency with age. The mean serum ferritin level was higher in patients with xerosis than in those without (5607.7 ± 2997.5 ng/mL and 4285.2 ± 4732.4 ng/mL, respectively) (P = 0.005). Moreover, xerosis was observed significantly more frequently in patients using deferoxamine and deferiprone than in those using deferasirox (P = 0.047, P = 0.027, and P = 0.273, respectively). Conclusion Skin diseases, especially pruritus and xerosis, are observed highly frequently in patients with β‐thalassemia major. Treatment is needed for these patients who already have other significant morbidities.