RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Cardiac iron overload is the most serious complication in thalassemia; even patients treated with intensive chelation suffer at a certain point from cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia. AIM: The aim of the study was to identify indicators of cardiac dysfunction in thalassemia as well as risk factors associated with the development of arrhythmia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with ß-thalassemia major were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the absence (group A) or the presence of arrhythmia (group B). Cardiac parameters in thalassemic groups were evaluated using 24-Holter recording, Stress electrocardiogram, and M-mode echocardiography. Serum ferritin and Cardiac T2* were used to assess the iron status. RESULTS: Group B showed significantly higher values of cardiac T2* and serum ferritin (P<0.05). Group B patients had significantly higher maximum heart rate with significant attacks of bradycardia and ST segment changes. In addition, they achieved a lower percentage of maximum age predicted heart rate and lower values of maximum metabolic equivalents (P<0.05). Significantly higher values of the left atrial diameter, the interventricular septum diameter, and the left-ventricle posterior wall diameter (P<0.05) were identified in group B. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in left atrial diameter, interventricular septum diameter, and left-ventricle posterior wall diameter seems to be related to the development of arrhythmia in patients with thalassemia, especially supraventricular arrhythmias.
