Reproductive Capacity and Iron Burden in Thalassemia
- Conditions
- THALASSEMIA MAJOR
- Interventions
- Other: Pituitary MRIOther: Retrospective data/Chart Review/Relevant Clinical ResultsOther: Blood Draw/Semen Exam
- Registration Number
- NCT02308904
- Lead Sponsor
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
- Brief Summary
The improved long-term survival of thalassemia major (TM) patients has resulted in increased focus on the ability to preserve fertility. While the association of iron toxicity with vital organ dysfunction, heart and liver, has been extensively investigated, the correlation of reproductive capacity and extent of iron overload is not well understood. Despite remarkable progress in methodology for prediction of reproductive status and intervention for preserving fertility, implementation in thalassemia is lacking.
The investigators hypothesize that iron toxicity to the anterior pituitary occurring in the process of transfusional iron loading is directly associated with a decline in gonadal function. The investigators expect pituitary MRI measurements of iron deposition as well as markers of oxidative damage to correlate with the functional studies of pituitary-gonadal axis performed in this study. This cross sectional study will examine the relation of pituitary iron deposition and pituitary volume; serum iron and oxidative stress measures, liver iron concentration (LIC), cardiac iron and chelation adequacy with pituitary and gonadal reproductive hormone levels (and spermatogenesis in adult male patients), in order to better define the association of iron burden and chelation patterns with fertility potential, in thalassemia patients with iron overload. The study will assess whether the current chelation treatment regimens, in particular during the pubertal developmental age, are adequate for preserving fertility and could lead to improved chelation routines for preventing the high prevalence of compromised fertility. In addition, by utilizing state-of-the-art markers for fertility status, findings from this study may improve current methods for screening for hypogonadism and reproductive potential and allow earlier intervention.
The investigators propose to examine 26-30 patients, 12 years and older, with measures of fertility potential, and correlate them to their current iron burden parameters and to the cumulative iron effect as indicated by past iron overload patterns and chelation history.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 59
- Transfusion-dependent* females and males with thalassemia (any genotype) who are 12 to 45 years of age.
- History of at least 5 years of chronic transfusion (defined as ≥ 8 transfusions/year) (Age of initiation of transfusions does not matter)
- Any pubertal stage.
- Liver iron evaluated by SQUID, MRI or liver biopsy within 12 months prior to enrollment in the study.
- Need to be able to stop hormonal therapy for 3 weeks (males) and one month (females) prior to study enrollment.
- Pregnant or lactating during study enrollment
- Unable to obtain liver iron concentration within 12 months prior or 6 months after study entry.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Pituitary MRI Pituitary MRI MRI has been shown to demonstrate well the changes related to iron toxicity in the pituitary gland. Data on iron burden and chelation history Retrospective data/Chart Review/Relevant Clinical Results Retrospective data, as listed in this section, will be obtained from chart review and results of relevant clinical data. 1. Iron burden data 2. Assay for non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) 3. Chelation data 4. Oxidant stress 5. History or presence of hypogonadism Laboratory Studies for Pituitary-Gonadal Function Blood Draw/Semen Exam Females: We expect to enroll approximately 15 females ages 12 years and older. Males: We expect to enroll approximately 15 males ages 12 years and older.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Laboratory studies for pituitary and gonadal function and for iron level measures Up to 12 months Each patient's pituitary iron and pituitary volume will be correlated with each hormone levels: LH, FSH, estrogen and AMH (Females), testosterone Inhibin B and (males).
We will then evaluate potential associations using Pearson correlations. Univariate analyses on all variables and it's relation with iron, will also be conducted.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Retrospective analysis of annual LIC and of type and dose of iron chelation agent in the parallel time period Up to 12 months We will evaluate potential associations using Pearson correlations of each measure: Mean LIC with each of the fertility hormone levels and with pituitary volume and height. Mean ferritin with each of the fertility hormone levels and with pituitary volume and height. NTBI with each of the fertility hormone levels and with pituitary volume and height. Oxidative measures (Vit C, Vit E, GSH/GSSG) with each of the fertility hormone levels and with pituitary volume and height. Regression analysis will be utilized to assess correlation of pituitary iron, LIC and cardiac iron. We will compute descriptive statistics for all measures by group. We will assess differences between the 2 groups using Student's t-test for continuous data and chi-square or Fisher's exact for categorical. A detailed retrospective analysis of LIC and chelation patterns (type of chelator and average dose) on these 2 groups will also be performed and fertility measures will be compared.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
🇺🇸Oakland, California, United States