Tehran University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research 2008-2207 12 2 2018 04 05 117 122 EN Iraj Shahramian Pediatric Digestive and Hepatic Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Razieh Behzadmehr Department of Radiology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Mahdi Afshari Department of Community Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Atefeh Allahdadi Clinical Research Development Unit, Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Mojtaba Delaramnasab Pediatric Digestive and Hepatic Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran. AND Clinical Research Development Unit, Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran Ali Bazi Pediatric Digestive and Hepatic Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran 2017 05 16 2018 01 07 Background: Cholelithiasis and its predisposing factors are less characterized in thalassemia syndromes. In the present study, we assessed the prevalence of gallstones and related-risk factors among thalassemia major (TM) patients in south-east of Iran. Materials and Methods: The patients were recruited form a single center in Zabol city, south-east of Iran. Demographic and clinical information were retrieved from medical histories. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed to scrutinize gallstones and organ dimensions of liver, spleen, gallbladder and kidney. Results: The study participants (n=127) consisted of 50 (39.4%) males and 77 (60.6%) females. The mean age of the patients was 15.2±7.9 years. Cholelithiasis was observed in 11 (8.7%) patients. Cholelithiasis was significantly associated with age (P=0.002) and splenectomy (P=0.001). The patients with cholelithiasis received a significantly higher blood volume than patients without cholelithiasis (546±108.7 ml and 425.1±134.7 ml, respectively, P=0.007). There were significant differences between cholelithiasis and non- cholelithiasis TM patients regarding the length of right and left liver lobes (P=0.001), as well as the length of gallbladder (P=0.006). Ferritin level was not associated with cholelithiasis in our patients. In multivariate analysis, age older than 15 (OR=10.4, 95% CI: 1.2-86.3, P=0.02) and 30 years old (OR=42.6, 95% CI: 2.9-613, P=0.006), and splenectomy (OR=8.7, 95% CI: 2.1-35.4, P=0.002) were significant risk factors for cholelithiasis. Conclusion: Cholelithiasis is a relatively common complication among TM patients in our region. The most prominent risk factors of cholelithiasis were advanced age, splenectomy and large-volume blood transfusion.   https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/view/798 https://ijhoscr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijhoscr/article/download/798/631