Beta Thalassemia

Researchers from Al-Azhar University, Cardiology Department publish new studies and findings in the area of thalassemia

Beta Thalassemia Library Library Home This article was published in Cardiovascular Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"We aimed to assess RV function in beta thalassemia (beta-Th) patients and to detect the relation of serum ferritin level to RV dysfunction. Thirty young patients with beta-Th and 15 age-matched normal subjects (NL) were included. We measured RV end diastolic and end systolic diameters (RVEDD and RVESD), RV % fractional shortening (RVFS), RV pressure (RVP), lateral and septal tricuspid annular systolic and diastolic tissue Doppler velocities (Sa, Ea, Aa & Ea/Aa), and RV myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities at the basal RV segment (RVSm, RVEm, RVAm & RVEm/Am). Serum ferritin level was measured in beta-Th patients who were divided accordingly into two groups; G1 with serum ferritin >or=2,000 microg/L and G2 with serum ferritin <2,000 microg/L. Compared to NL subjects, beta-Th patients had significantly higher RVEDD, RVESD & RVP, lower RVFS, higher Aa, and lower Ea/Aa at lateral and septal tricuspid annular sites, higher RVAm and lower RVEm/Am. Patients with higher serum ferritin level (G1) had higher RVP, higher RVEDD and RVESD, lower Sa at the lateral annular site and lower RVSm than patients in G2. High serum ferritin level was significantly associated with pulmonary hypertension," wrote A.M. Hamdy and colleagues, Al-Azhar University, Cardiology Department.

The researchers concluded: "We concluded that patients with beta-Th have RV diastolic dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension is common, and the presence of RV systolic dysfunction in these patients is related to the higher level of serum ferritin."

Hamdy and colleagues published the results of their research in Echocardiography (Right ventricular function in patients with beta thalassemia: relation to serum ferritin level. Echocardiography, 2007;24(8):795-801).

For additional information, contact A.M. Hamdy, Al-Zahraa University Hospital, Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, 106 El-Abasseya Street, Cairo, Egypt.

The publisher of the journal Echocardiography can be contacted at: Blackwell Futura Publishing, Inc., 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 01248-5018, USA.

Keywords: Egypt, Cairo, Beta-Thalassemia, Cardiology, Echocardiography, Hematology, Thalassemia.

This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com.