Factors associated with high hepatic transaminases as determined by χ2 test*
| Factor | Proportion in high transaminase group | Proportion in normal transaminase group | χ2 value | P value |
| Type of thalassaemia | ||||
| HbE β-thalassaemia (n=22) | 14 (63.6%) | 8 (36.4%) | 7.05 | 0.008 |
| β-thalassaemia major (n=44) | 13 (29.5%) | 31 (70.5%) | ||
| Transfusion status | ||||
| Transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (n=55) | 22 (40.0%) | 33 (60.0%) | 0.12 | 0.72 |
| Non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (n=17) | 6 (35.3%) | 11 (64.7%) | ||
| Hepatomegaly | ||||
| Hepatomegaly (n=47) | 23 (48.9%) | 24 (51.1%) | 5.75 | 0.016 |
| No hepatomegaly (n=25) | 5 (20.0%) | 20 (70.0%) | ||
| Serum ferritin | ||||
| High (>1000 ng/mL) (n=43) | 20 (46.5%) | 23 (53.5%) | 2.61 | 0.10 |
| Normal (<1000 ng/mL) (n=29) | 8 (27.6%) | 21 (72.4%) | ||
| Deferasirox treatment | ||||
| On deferasirox (n=55) | 24 (43.6%) | 31 (56.4%) | 2.20 | 0.13 |
| Not on deferasirox (n=17) | 4 (23.5%) | 13 (76.5%) | ||
| Deferoxamine treatment | ||||
| On desferioxamine (n=31) | 11 (35.5%) | 20 (64.5%) | 0.26 | 0.60 |
| Not on desferioxamine (n=41) | 17 (41.5%) | 24 (58.5%) | ||
*High hepatic transaminases are defined as ALT>40 IU/L and AST>40 IU/L.
ALT, alanine transaminases; AST, aspartate transaminases; HbE, haemoglobin E.