{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04962095106822881, 'fraction_numerical': 0.028256374913852515, 'mean_word_length': 5.1525423728813555, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 1, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Fundus changes in thalassemia in Egyptian patients

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the fundus changes in thalassemic patients in Giza and Fayoum Governorates. Patients and methods Thirty thalassemic patients recruited from the Pediatric Hematology Clinic in Fayoum University Hospital, Misr University Hospital, and NILES Pediatric Clinic were included in the present study. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination and laboratory investigations. Results The mean age was 10.7±5.9 (6–36) years. There were 20 male patients (66.7%), with a mean duration of disease of 7.1±7.1 years (3 months to 36 years). Patients were classified on the basis of hemoglobin (Hb) level into two groups: 7 g/dl or less (thalassemia major) and greater than 7 g/dl (thalassemia intermediate and thalassemia minor). There was a significant correlation between cup/disc (C/D) ratio and Hb level (P<0.05) and a nonsignificant correlation with color vision defect, retinal venous tortuosity, and arteriovenous (A–V) crossing changes. A highly significant correlation between serum ferritin and color vision defect (P=0.001), increased cup/disc ratio (P=0.001), venous tortuosity (P=0.001), and A–V crossing changes (P=0.002) was found. Conclusion The majority of the ocular changes depend on the course and severity of thalassemia. Ocular complications can be prevented or delayed by reducing serum iron and ferritin levels with iron-chelating agents.