Vertebra Plana due to Thalassemia: A Case Report

Beta thalassemia syndromes are a group of hereditary blood disorders causing a reduction of hemoglobin (Hb) content of red blood cells due to reduced or absent β globin chain synthesis. Beta thalassemia major emerges between 6th and 24th months of life and is characterized by growth retardation, pallor, jaundice, muscular weakness, genu valgum, hepatosplenomegaly, foot ulcers, mass lesions due to extramedullary hematopoiesis, and skeletal changes secondary to bone marrow expansion [1]. A normal growth rate can be achieved for 10 to 12 years provided that hemoglobin concentration is kept between 9.5 and 10.5 g/dl by regular blood transfusions [2]. In patients undergoing transfusions certain complications secondary to excessive iron loading may occur and include delayed sexual maturation, cardiomyopathy, endocrine gland dysfunction, hypersplenism, chronic hepatitis, HIV infection, venous thrombosis, and osteoporosis [1,3]. Vertebra plana is a radiological diagnosis defined as vertebral flattenLnJ or straightening with preserved intervertebral disc height. It arises most commonly due to eosinophilic granuloma while metastatic disease, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, Ewing’s sarcoma, Gaucher disease, tuberculosis, and aneurysmal bone cysts are other causes [4]. НalassemLa major, on the other hand, is not a frequent cause of vertebra plana. НLs paper discusses the etiopathogenesis and management approach of osteoporosis-induced vertebra plana of L4 vertebra in a case with thalassemia major.