ABSTRACT

The effects of iron load especially in patients receiving regular transfusion on pineal gland and its major neurohormone melatonin is not known.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the possible alterations on melatonin rhythm in regularly transfused children with thalassemia major.

Twenty patients with thalassemia major were enrolled in this study.

There was no significant difference for daytime melatonin levels between control group and thalassemia major patients. However, nighttime melatonin levels were significantly lower in thalassemia major patients than control group.

As a conclusion, Iron overload may have detrimental effects that leads to disruption in melatonin rhythm.

Keywords: Melatonin, thalassemia major, ferritin, children