NON-INVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF IRON OVERLOAD IN Β-THALASSEMIA PATIENTS: CORRELATING PERLS' PRUSSIAN BLUE STAINING IN BUCCAL CELLS WITH SERUM FERRITIN LEVELS

Introduction: β-Thalassemia is a hereditary disorder requiring frequent blood transfusions, leading to iron overload, which can cause serious complications. While serum ferritin levels are commonly used to assess iron overload, they are influenced by various factors, necessitating a more reliable, non-invasive method. This study evaluates the use of oral exfoliative cytology with Perls' Prussian blue stain for assessing iron overload in β-thalassemia patients. The study aims to assess iron overload in β-thalassemia patients using Perls' Aims&Objectives: Prussian blue stain on oral exfoliative cytology and correlate the findings with serum ferritin levels to evaluate its potential as a diagnostic tool. A total of 200 Methodology: β-thalassemia patients were enrolled from August 2022 to January 2024 at the Department of Pathology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Oral exfoliative cytology samples were stained with Perls' Prussian blue, and serum ferritin levels were measured. Statistical analysis was used to determine the correlation. Perls' Prussian blue staining was positive for iron deposits in 85% of pat Results: ients. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) was observed between Perls' staining and serum ferritin levels, particularly in patients with ferritin >1000 ng/mL. Oral Conclusion: exfoliative cytology with Perls' Prussian blue stain is a reliable, non-invasive method for assessing iron overload in β-thalassemia patients and correlates well with serum ferritin levels, making it a promising diagnostic tool.