The cause of growth retardation in the inherited blood disorder b-thalassemia major (b-thal) has long been a subject of debate. This has become an issue in the last few years since children with b-thal are undergoing hypertransfusion and iron chelation therapy, and now living well into their thirties and forties. Therefore, in addition to growth retardation, many of the endocrinopathies such as...
