Evidence of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Thalassemia Major by Using Echocardiography

Abstract

Background 
 Thalassemia major is one of the most inherited disorders in the Middle East; it has many complications related to iron overload and hepatitis viral transmission; complication of iron overload has destructing effect on many organ systems including liver; heart; pancreas; and lung. In the lung lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension which is defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥25mmHg during rest.
 Objectives 
 To detect the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with thalassemia major and how supportive measures affecting outcome of it.
 Patients and Methods
 A cross sectional study undertaken in Shaheid Hemn Teaching hospital, center for internal medicine diseases with collaboration of thalassemia center inside the hospital; 100 thalassemia major patients who are diagnosed previously by hemoglobin electrophoresis without any other comorbidity taken as a sample and echocardiography done using Phillips CX50 machine of 2009 model; the data then collected and using SPSS v23 for analyzing data.
 Results
 Study show 53% of thalassemia major has evidence of increased pulmonary artery pressure and only 1% has clinically significant pressure; splenectomy show high risk factor for occurrence of pulmonary hypertension but other supportive measures has no obstacle effect in its occurrence.
 Conclusion
 Most thalassemia major patients have evidence of pulmonary hypertension at least mild one; and putting splenectomy as a last line of managing them is recommended.