Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in &beta;‑thalassemia major: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature&nbsp;

Amin,Trwska A.; Rasool,Luqman K.H.; Abdulqadir,Choman H.; Ahmed,Shaho F.; Ali,Rawa M.; Salih,Karokh H.; Gharib,Dana T.; Asaad,Hoshmand R.; Abdullah,Hiwa O.; Kakamad,Fahmi H.; Najmadden,Zana B.

doi:10.3892/mi.2026.331

September-October 2026 Volume 6 Issue 5

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September-October 2026 Volume 6 Issue 5

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Case Report Open Access

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in β‑thalassemia major: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature

Authors:
- Trwska A. Amin
- Luqman K.H. Rasool
- Choman H. Abdulqadir
- Shaho F. Ahmed
- Rawa M. Ali
- Karokh H. Salih
- Dana T. Gharib
- Hoshmand R. Asaad
- Hiwa O. Abdullah
- Fahmi H. Kakamad
- Zana B. Najmadden
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Hematology, Thalassaemia and Congenital Blood Diseases Center, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Department of Endocrinology, Smart Health Tower, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Department of Pathology, Smart Health Tower, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Smart Health Tower, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Department of Scientific Affairs, Smart Health Tower, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq, Research Center, University of Halabja, Halabja 46018, Iraq

Copyright: © Amin et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 47
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Published online on: July 22, 2026

https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2026.331
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Abstract

The co‑occurrence of β‑thalassemia major and inflammatory bowel disease is exceedingly rare, yet clinically important, as overlapping manifestations such as severe anemia, fatigue, abdominal pain and dysentery may mask the underlying inflammatory bowel disease and delay diagnosis. The patients described in the present case report exhibited markedly elevated levels of inflammatory markers and fecal calprotectin levels (>1,000 µg/g); these findings, together with colonoscopic and histopathological findings, enabled the diagnosis of both major inflammatory bowel disease subtypes, namely Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These cases add to the limited literature available by demonstrating that inflammatory bowel disease should be considered in patients with β‑thalassemia major presenting with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly when symptoms are disproportionate to baseline disease manifestations. Early clinical suspicion, prompt diagnostic evaluation, and multidisciplinary management are crucial for preventing further clinical deterioration, minimizing complications and improving long‑term outcomes. However, further studies are warranted to clarify the potential pathophysiological association and establish optimal management strategies for this rare coexistence.

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in β‑thalassemia major: A report of two cases and a brief review of the literature

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