The study will be conducted after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Bahria University Health Sciences Campus Karachi (BUHSCK) and the Faculty Research Committee (FRC). After obtaining written informed consent, 48 participants in each group with beta-thalassemia major will be selected from the National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation. Participants will be randomized into two treatment groups using computer-generated randomization.
Group A participants will receive Metformin 500 mg/dose twice daily orally for one year. Group B participants will receive Hydroxyurea 10-20 mg/kg once daily orally for one year.
Dose escalation therapy will be implemented to improve participant compliance and tolerance. The first month will not be included in the study period for each participant. A general physical examination will be conducted monthly. Blood pressure (mm Hg) will be assessed using a sphygmomanometer. The pulse rate (beats per minute) will be determined by palpating the radial artery, and the Body Mass Index (kg/m\^2) will be calculated for each participant.
Dietary Counseling
People with thalassemia are advised to consume vitamin C-rich foods like vegetables and fruits to prevent depletion from iron overload. They should also include dairy products in their diet to counter calcium depletion, while avoiding high-iron foods such as beef, liver, spinach, and dates.
SF (Short-form) Questionnaire
All participants will complete the SF-36, a 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The SF-36 is a widely used tool for evaluating overall health status, consisting of 36 items across 8 domains. The scores contribute to two main components: the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS). The SF-36 is employed to assess Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in both the general population and individuals with various medical conditions, including beta-thalassemia major (β-TM), allowing for comparisons of HRQoL across different illnesses and health statuses.
I) Baseline Investigations/Parameters (at day zero)
Baseline investigations will include Complete Blood Count (CBC), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Serum Creatinine, Serum Ferritin, Liver Function Tests (LFTs), HCV RNA test, Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF) level, Abdominal Ultrasound, Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) Scan, and DNA mutations. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) will be assessed by the SF-36 Questionnaire at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
II) Monthly Follow-up for Clinical Features
Only CBC will be performed monthly, and any adverse effects related to the drugs will be inquired about.
III) At 3 Months
CBC, RBS, Serum Creatinine, and LFTs will be assessed for any adverse effects on blood, kidneys, and liver.
IV) At 6 \& 12 Months
All baseline investigations, except DNA mutations, will be repeated.
V) At 9 Months
Random Blood Sugar, Serum Ferritin, and Serum Creatinine will be assessed.
Adverse Effects of Drugs
Adverse effects will be explained to each participant as follows: A) Metformin: nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, etc. B) Hydroxyurea: cytopenia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rashes, etc.
DNA mutations will be analyzed using Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR) in responders and non-responders.
Data will be collected using the Consent Form and SF-36 Questionnaire. Data analysis will be performed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27. A p-value ≤ 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) will be used for continuous variables, while categorical variables will be presented as frequencies and percentages. To determine the mean difference, a repeated-measures two-way ANOVA within each group will be used. For correlation analysis, an independent T-test will be employed.
