The Management of Endocrine Complications in Patients with Haemoglobinopathies: Good Clinical Practice of the Italian Society of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies (SITE)

Background: The treatment of endocrinopathies in haemoglobinopathies is a continually expanding research area; therefore, recommendations supporting the appropriateness of treatments are a pressing need for the medical community. Methods: The Management Committee of SITE selected and gathered a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional team including experts in haemoglobinopathies and experts in endocrinopathies, who have been flanked by experts with methodological and organizational expertise, in order to formulate recommendations based on the available scientific evidence integrated by clinical experience. The project followed the systematic approach for the production of clinical practice guidelines according to the methodology suggested by the National Center for Clinical Excellence, Quality and Safety of Care (CNEC). Results: Out of 14 topics 100 clinical questions were addressed and 206 recommendations were elaborated. Strength of recommendations, panel agreement, general description of the topic, and interpretation of evidence were reported. Conclusions: Good Practice Recommendations are the final outcome of translational research and allow to transfer the latest research knowledge to the daily clinical practice of endocrine complications in haemoglobinopathies.