Investigating the relationship between major thalassemia diseases with anthropometric sizes of head and facial soft tissue

Abstract

Literature review and aim: according to increasing prevalence of beta thalassemia (thalassemia major) and based on raised concerns about abnormal head and facial anthropometric besides recognized side effects and etiological importance of these disorders in these sizes and considering that previous studies lacked investigations about relationship between anthropometric sizes of head and facial heard tissues with major thalassemia we decided to perform a research aiming at analysis of the relationship between anthropometric sizes of head and facial soft tissue with major thalassemia and comparing it with normal people.This research was performed by case control method. Case group consisted 30 patients with thalassemia and control group also included 30 normal people who were approximately similar to case group considering their age, gender and BMI. Age range of both groups was from 17-35. Clinical examination, interview, and measuring indicators in both patient and normal group before receiving any treatments including orthodonsy, trauma, plastic operation in head and facial area. Anatomic points were marked with black oily pencil on meant areas of head and facial. Angle sizes were recorded by 0/5-degree approximation and linear sizes were recorded by 0/5 approximation. In this research, anthropometric standard tools for measuring head and face were sliding caliper, measuring tape, Spreading caliper. For comparing both groups, statistical ANOVA test was used and in order to determine statistical difference between groups, t test was used.Statistical results indicated that anthropometric indicators of head and facial soft tissue are affected considering comparison of thalassemia and normal groups. In 20 indicators no signifi cant difference was observed P<0/02 and in 11 indicators reduction happened (p<0.05) and in the next 10 indicators an increase occurred (p<0.05).Due to anemia, patients with thalassemia are suffered from bone marrow hyperplasia in wide bones of head and face such as maxilla, frontal, mandible ramus and other deformations, so transverse growth is happening in bones of these people and consequently their covering soft tissue is growing transversely.