"Comparison of cardiac status in Thalassemic patients with that of non-Thalassemic children "

Abstract

Cardiac siderosis from transfused iron remained, despite iron chelation therapy with desferioxamine (DFO), the major cause of death in Thalassemia major. In a retrospective study, we reviewed 67 patients with Thalassemia major and the same number of non-thalassemic children and analyzed factors affecting cardiac involvement. Ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (SF) of Thalassemic group was lower than that of non-thalassemic and difference was significant (P<0.001). In Thalassemic patients there was inverse relationship between serum ferritin and cardiac OF and SF. Patients with optimal compliance had lower serum ferritin (P<0.001). 16 patients showed some kind of cardiac involvement. Older (P<0.001), had lower SF (P<0.05) and late onset of DFO therapy (P<0.001). We concluded that patients with Thalassemia major, despite iron chelation therapy with DFO, had weaker cardiac performance compared to non-thalassemic children. In these patients cardiac complications occurred in older age group with late onset of DFO treatment. Echocardiographic measurement of SF has prognostic value.