Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Deferoxamine, deferasirox, and deferiprone triple iron chelator combination therapy for transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia with very high iron overload: a randomised clinical trial(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-10) Premawardhena, A.; Wanasinghe, S.; Perera, C.; Wijethilaka, M.N.; Rajakaruna, R.H.M.G.; Samarasinghe, R.A.N.K.K.; Williams, S.; Mettananda, S.BACKGROUND Many patients with β-thalassaemia die prematurely due to iron overload. In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the triple combination of deferoxamine, deferasirox and deferiprone on iron chelation in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia with very high iron overload.METHODS This open-label, randomised, controlled clinical trial was conducted at Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. Transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia patients with ferritin >3500 ng/mL were randomised 2:1 into intervention (deferoxamine, deferasirox and deferiprone) and control (deferoxamine and deferasirox) arms. Reduction in serum ferritin after six months was the primary outcome measure. Reduction in liver iron content, improvement in cardiac T2∗, and adverse effects were secondary outcome measures.FINDINGS Twenty-three patients (intervention-15, control-8) were recruited. 92% and 62% in the intervention and control arms showed a reduction in ferritin, respectively. The mean reduction of ferritin was significantly higher in intervention (−1094 ± 907 ng/mL) compared to control (+82 ± 1588 ng/mL) arm (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant difference in the liver iron content in two arms. In the intervention arm, 67% improved cardiac T2∗ (mean change +6.72 ± 9.63 ms) compared to 20% in the control arm (mean change −3.00 ± 8.24 ms). Five patients discontinued deferiprone due to arthralgia, which resolved completely after stopping the drug.INTERPRETATION Triple combination therapy with deferoxamine, deferasirox and deferiprone is more efficacious in reducing iron burden measured by serum ferritin and showed a positive trend in reducing myocardial iron content in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia with very high iron overload. Deferiprone has the disturbing side effect of reversible but severe arthropathy.Item GDF15 molecule is responsible for low body mass index in children with thalassaemia(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2024) Mettananda, S.No abstract availableItem Hepatic and renal status of paediatric patients with thalassaemia(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) Wijenayake, W.; Pathiraja, H.; Thennakoon, R.; Fernando, M.; Bandara, D.; Mettananda, S.INTRODUCTION: Thalassaemia is a chronic disorder affecting many organ systems. Although cirrhosis is a well-recognised complication, sub-clinical hepatic and renal dysfunction in thalassaemia are poorly studied. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the hepatic and renal status and dysfunction of paediatric patients with thalassaemia. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Kurunegala and Ragama Thalassaemia Centres during February and March 2023. All patients aged less than 16 years attending the thalassaemia centres were recruited. Data were collected using a data collection form by interviewing parents and perusal of clinical records and analysed using SPSS 27.0. Ethical approval was obtained from the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (mean age-7.7; males-46%) were recruited. Of them 48(73%) had homozygous beta-thalassaemia and 17(26%) had HbE thalassaemia; 52(80%) were transfusion-dependent and 13(20%) were non-transfusion-dependent. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were found in 45(69%) and 30(46%), respectively. Regarding hepatic status, 34(52%) had high (>40IU/L) alanine transaminases, of which 8(12%) had >3-fold elevation of alanine transaminases. A higher proportion of children with HbE thalassaemia (71%) had elevated alanine transaminases compared to homozygous beta-thalassaemia (46%, χ2=3.0, p=0.07). Also, a higher proportion of children on deferasirox (57%) had elevated alanine transaminases compared to those who were not on the drug (27%, χ2=3.3, p=0.06). Four (5%) had <2+ proteinuria in urinalysis however, the urine protein: creatine ratio was normal in all. CONCLUSION: High alanine transaminases were noted in over 50% of paediatric patients with thalassaemia. HbE thalassaemia type and use of deferasirox were associated with high alanine transaminase levels.Item Management of iron deficiency anaemia in children(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2023) Mettananda, S.No abstract availableItem Knowledge and practices on childhood anaemia, thalassaemia and iron deficiency among mothers of children aged between 6 and 59 months in a suburban area of Sri Lanka(BioMed Central, London, 2022) Samararathna, R.; Gunaratne, A.V.C.; Mettananda, S.BACKGROUND: Childhood anaemia is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. Here, we aim to describe the knowledge and practices on childhood anaemia, thalassaemia and iron deficiency among mothers of children aged between 6 and 59 months in a suburban district of Sri Lanka. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka from December 2020 to February 2021. One well-baby clinic each from four Medical Officer of Health areas in the district was selected using stratified random sampling. Mothers of all children aged between 6 and 59 months attending well-baby clinics were recruited until the sample size was achieved. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 392 mothers were recruited; 53% of their children were males. Only 33% of mothers had an accurate understanding of anaemia, while 71% and 28%, respectively, could name at least one symptom and two causes of anaemia; 12% could not name a single food rich in iron. Only 13% of mothers knew that thalassaemia is a cause of anaemia, and 14% had been screened for thalassaemia. Logistic regression analysis that examined for factors associated with higher knowledge of anaemia revealed that an accurate understanding of anaemia was associated with maternal age over 30 years (p < 0.05) and maternal education level beyond grade ten (p < 0.001). In contrast, higher knowledge of symptoms of anaemia was associated with maternal employment (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of anaemia and awareness of thalassaemia among mothers was poor. Very few mothers were aware of iron-rich food and feed it to their children. Despite being located in a thalassaemia-endemic region, very few knew that thalassaemia is a cause of anaemia and have got themselves screened for thalassaemia..Item Hydroxyurea reduces the blood transfusion burden in patients with thalassaemia.(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2022) Mettananda, S.No abstract availableItem Morbidity and mortality patterns in patients with thalassaemia during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka;A single centre experience(Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine, 2022) Nisansala, R.; de Silva, S.; Ediriweera, D.; Premawardhena, A.Introduction: Patients with thalassaemia syndromes (TS) affected with COVID-19 attending a thalassaemia centre in Sri Lanka situated in the region most affected with COVID-19 were studied over a 16-month period. Methods: To assess the collateral effects on overall thalassaemia care in the centre, data on transfusion, chelation and clinic attendance were analysed. Morbidity events and deaths recorded during the COVID-19 period and during a similar period before the beginning of COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka were recorded in all clinic registrants. Results: Seven patients (of 502) with TS had developed COVID-19 during the 16-month period; all were minimally symptomatic and had recovered without complications. Number of monthly clinic visits reduced from 338 pre-COVID to 268 during COVID (p=0.004). Iron chelator usage too reduced during the pandemic period (p<0.001). Though admissions related to morbidity reduced during the pandemic (58 vs 16, p<0.001) there were more non-COVID deaths (8 vs 4). Conclusions: Numbers affected with COVID-19 were low and severity of infection was mild in this cohort of patients with TS. Collateral effect on the management of the unit and effects on mortality in this vulnerable population appears to have been substantial.Item Management of Thalassaemia(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2018) Mettananda, S.