Authors : A. Azarkeivan , A. Mehrvar , M. Faranoush , P. Vosough , N. Mehrvar , R. Ghorbani , A. Shahmohamadi , M.A. Ehsani and A.A. Hedayatiasl
Abstract: Thalassemia is accounted as the most common hereditary anemia through our region. Appropriate therapy for this disease includes a regular monthly blood injection. However, in the approach patients will inevitably confront with side effects particularly iron overloads in critical organs including heart, ductless glands and liver. In this study, we wanted to consider the heart abnormalities in patients with β thalassemia, who received blood transfusion. In this study, 139 patients with β thalassemia (major and intermedia) enrolled, who referring to medical centers linked with the Iranian blood transition institute and Ali Asghar hospital. History about blood transfusion, iron chelation were taken. Physical examination were done too. Heart abnormalities have considered by echocardiography method. The mean (±SD) age was 21.1±7.1 years. Mean duration of treatment was 22.6±13.7 years. The 95.5% of patients had not respiratory problems. Mean (±SD) of ferritin was 1536.2±1609.6 ng dL-1. The 26.5% had cardiac problems. In these patients, 4.3% had previous asthma, 12% complained from palpitation, 10% used drugs for their heart problems and at last 5.8% had cardiomegaly. In order to our results and previous researches we can say that heart can be considered as a primary site for iron deposition and alteration of heart abnormalities could be expected even in well chelated patients by echocardiography.
A. Azarkeivan , A. Mehrvar , M. Faranoush , P. Vosough , N. Mehrvar , R. Ghorbani , A. Shahmohamadi , M.A. Ehsani and A.A. Hedayatiasl , 2009. Cardiac Involvement in Patients with Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 195-199.