Platelet activation markers in beta thalassemia trait

Background-Aim: Cerebro-vascular and cardio-vascular ischemic events are less frequently observed in patients with beta thalassemia trait (BTT) compared to general population. The reason of this is unknown. Hemorrhagic tendency in some BTT patients was reported. Reduced platelet aggregation response has been observed with in vitro platelet aggregation tests in these patients. On this basis, we considered that platelets of individuals with BTT could be defective or less active, resulting in less cerebral and cardiac ischemic events. We investigated blood levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), soluble p-selectin (sPS), beta-thromboglobulin (BT), Platelet factor 4 (PF4) in BTT patients. Method: Thirty-seven patients with BTT were compared with 41 gender-, age-, and BMI-matched controls for platelet activation markers in a cross-sectional design. The groups were also compared for comorbidities, smoking, and regular medications. Comorbidities (except essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus) and medications which affect or likely to affect platelet activation markers were considered as causes of exclusion. Results: sCD40L and sPS were lower in the BTT group (p=0.009, p=0.010, respectively). BT and PF4 were comparable between the groups (p=0.497, p= 0.507, respectively). Groups were similar in terms of gender, age, BMI, serum lipid profile, frequency of smoking, diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, and medications used regularly. Conclusion: Lower levels of sCD40L and sPS, for which a stronger relationship with atherothrombosis than BT and PF4 has been demonstrated, in BTT patients may suggest reduced platelet functions in BTT, which may be associated with lower incidence of cerebral and cardiac ischemic events in BTT patients.