Study findings on thalassemia are outlined in reports from Michigan State University, Medical Department
2007 OCT 15 -- According to a study from the United States, "Cardiac events, including heart failure and arrhythmias, are the leading cause of death in patients with beta thalassemia. Although cardiac arrhythmias in humans are believed to result from iron overload, excluding confounding factors in the human population is difficult." "The goal of the current study was to determine whether cardiac arrhythmias occurred in the guinea pig model of secondary iron overload. Electrocardiograms were recorded by using surgically implanted telemetry devices in guinea pigs loaded intraperitoneally with iron dextran (test animals) or dextran alone (controls). Loading occurred over approximately 6 wk. Electrocardiograms were recorded for 1 wk prior to loading, throughout loading, and for approximately 4 wk after loading was complete. Cardiac and liver iron concentrations were significantly increased in the iron-loaded animals compared with controls and were in the range of those reported for humans with thalassemia. Arrhythmias were rare in both iron-loaded and control guinea pigs. No life-threatening arrhythmias were detected in either group," wrote L. Kaiser and colleagues, Michigan State University, Medical Department. The researchers concluded: "These data suggest that iron alone may be insufficient to cause cardiac arrhythmias in the iron-loaded guinea pig model and that arrhythmias detected in human patients with iron overload may be the result of a complex interplay of factors." Kaiser and colleagues published their study in Comparative Medicine (Iron does not cause arrhythmias in the guinea pig model of transfusional iron overload. Comparative Medicine, 2007;57(4):383-389). For more information, contact L. Kaiser, Michigan State University, College Human Medical, Dept. of Hematology & Oncology, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Comparative Medicine is: American Association Laboratory Animal Science, 9190 Crestwyn Hills Dr., Memphis, TN 38125, USA. Keywords: United States, East Lansing, Arrhythmia, Beta-Thalassemia, Blood Transfusion, Cardio Device, Cardiology, Comparative Medicine, Hematology, Iron Overload, Medical Device, Thalassemia, Transfusion Medicine, Michigan State University, Medical Department. This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com.
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