Assessment of cardiac functions in thalassemia patients with m-mode echocardiography

Abstract

Although there is increased survival and quality of life for thalassemia patients, which results from a genetic defect in globin synthesis, heart diseases are still important causes of morbidity and mortality related to the iron burden. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the cardiac functions of thalassemia patients followed up in Hatay State Hospital using echocardiography. Method: A total of 101 patients with 7 thalassemia intermedia and 94 thalassemia major who were followed at Hatay state hospital were examined retrospectively. Of patients, 47 were male and 54 were female. Their ages ranged between 1-17 years (mean 8.6±4.6 years). M-mode echocardiography was used to measure LVEDd (left ventricular enddiastolic diameter) and EF (ejection fraction). The demographic and laboratory values of the patients were obtained from their files. Results: The mean of LVEDd (mm) and EF (%) were evaluated as 34.8±6.1, and 66.36±1.4 with M-mode echocardiography, respectively. When the correlation between age, ferritin and LVEDd and EF were evaluated; it was determined that there was a high positive correlation (r=0.649) between age and LVEDd (p<0.01). A negative correlation was detected between ferritin and EF (r=-0.271) (p<0.01). EF was found to be significantly lower in the group with ferritin <2000. LVEDd was found to be increased in the group with ferritin >2000, although it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In our study, it was shown that EF was decreased with increasing ferritin and LVEDS was increased with increasing age of patients with thalassemia. The ideal ferritin level which was ensured after suitable chelation therapy should be an important goal to reduce cardiac involvement.