The correlation study of cardiovascular functions and iron overload by echocardiographic indices in thalassemia patients

Aim: Beta thalassemia is a disease which is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia and multiple transfusion dependence. Endotelial disfunction and arterial stiffness can develop. Therefore, iron overload may lead to myocardial infarction and other cardiac complications. In this study, we planed to evaluate arterial stiffness with echocardiographic and oscillometric (TensioMed arteriography) methods in thalassemia patients.Methods: We enrolled 44 participants from both gender (24 thalasemia patients, 20 control patients). Hematologic and hemodynamic parameters were recorded. Arterial stiffness was assessed non-invasively by measurement of pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, aortic strain, distensibility and arterial stiffness index by using TensioMed arteriography and echocardiography.Results: Aortic strain and arterial stiffness index were found to be significant between two groups (p=0.003 versus p=<0.001, respectively). Pulse wave velocity had borderline significance between thalasemia and control patients. Pulse wave velocity was higher in increased ferritin level group (p=0.047). Tissue doppler early (E ') and late (A') mitral annular diastolic filling velocities in patients with beta thalassemia were significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.06, p <0.01, respectively ).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that tissue Doppler echocardiographic evaluation was useful in determining the development of diastolic dysfunction in patients with thalassemia. Arterial stiffness indices, especially aortic strain, arterial stiffness index and pulse wave velocity are a useful and easy methods to predict risk of vascular aging at thalassemia patients.Keywords: Thalassemia, iron overload, arterial stiffness, echocardiographic indices.