Cardiac complications of homozygous beta thalassaemia

ABSTRACT

Homozygous - beta thalassaemia has frequently been reported to be associated with cardiac complications mainly due to the deposition of iron in the heart. To find effects of homozygous beta-thalassemia on cardiac functions and its relation with Haemosiderosis. Eighty patients with homozygous beta thalasscamia were included in the study. Thalassaemic center attach to Ibn-Alatheer paediatric hospital, Haematology unit, Coronary care unit and Echo unit in Ibn-Sina teaching hospital in Mosul [February to September 2005]. All patients were subjected to full clinical, laboratory, ECG and Echocardiographic evaluation. There were 50 males and 30 females. Age ranged between 11-35 years, their mean was 15.8 years. 18 [22.5%] patients had cardiac dysfunction, of them 12 [15%] had systolic dysfunction and 6 [7.5%] had diastolic dysfunction. ECG changes were present in 27[33.75%] patients and 31[38.75%] had valvular abnormalities. Congestive heart failure present in 3[3.75%] patients and 3[3.75%] patients had pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac Complications are common in Homozygous-beta Thalassaemia older than the age of 10 years. Further studies utilizing more advanced techniques to detect earlier cardiac dysfunction more accurately may be useful