Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40987949›Full record

GuidelineAnnals of hematology2025

Framework for the comprehensive screening for endocrine disorders in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia in low-resource settings.

Saadia Abbas, Muhammad Osama Khan, Aahan Arif, Hafsa Majid, Lena Jafri, Aisha Shaikh, Khadija Humayun, Aysha Habib Khan, Bushra Moiz

Abstract readPractice Guideline
In one paragraph

Guideline in Annals of hematology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Saadia Abbas *Medical College, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6950-1626
Muhammad Osama Khan *Medical College, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0439-4396
Aahan Arif *Medical College, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1037-6090
Hafsa MajidDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7506-7988
Lena JafriDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6807-5429
Aisha ShaikhDepartment of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
Khadija HumayunDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
Aysha Habib KhanDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan. aysha.habib@aku.edu.
Bushra MoizDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7693-5740

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite advances in managing transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), endocrine complications continue to be a major concern, especially in low-resource settings where delayed diagnosis and inadequate screening lead to higher morbidity. This study aims to develop a practical, evidence-based framework for screening endocrine and metabolic disorders in TDT patients aged 1-16 years in resource-limited environments. Five major guidelines were reviewed, including those from the Thalassemia International Federation (2025), UK Thalassemia Standards (2023), Italian Society for Thalassemia (2022), International Network on Endocrine Complications in Thalassemia (2013), and Oakland Children's Hospital (2012). A multidisciplinary panel of experts analyzed these guidelines along with local data to create a structured screening approach. Local literature highlights significant endocrine challenges, including stunted growth (50.5%, 95% CI: 29.6-71.4) and hypogonadism or delayed puberty (45.8%, 95% CI: -6.5-98.2). Less common issues include hypothyroidism (19.9%), hypoparathyroidism (12.8%), and impaired glucose metabolism (5.0%). A comparative analysis reveals that all guidelines emphasize the importance of clinical evaluation and laboratory testing. However, there are variations in testing panels and screening protocols. The proposed framework highlights clinical assessment as the first step, followed by targeted laboratory testing when resources are limited. Key recommendations include optimizing transfusion and iron chelation to reduce complications, as well as age-specific screening for early detection of endocrinopathies in patients with TDT. This consensus-based approach seeks to standardize endocrine screening for TDT patients, promoting early intervention and referral. Successful implementation will involve training healthcare providers to improve thalassemia care in low-resource settings.

Indexed as

Blood TransfusionEndocrine System DiseasesMass ScreeningThalassemiaAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHealth ResourcesHumansHypogonadismInfantMale

Identifiers

PMID40987949
PMCPMC12552256

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.