PLATYSPONDYLY IN TREATED BETA-THALASSEMIA

Flattening of the vertebral bodies with a platyspondyly appearance is described in 14 patients selected for evaluation of short stature from 106 patients affected by thalassemia major, who received an intensive transfusion regimen combined with continuous chelation therapy. The v ertebral body height/width ratio was decreased at the level of all the investigated tracts, namely, cervical and/or dorsal and/or lumbar. Th e flattening of the vertebral bodies may be due to suppression of intr amedullary hematopoiesis by a high transfusion regimen. The reduced in travertebral pressure due to disturbed hemopoiesis could cause weight- bearing and other biological stresses to provoke a reduction in verteb ral body height.