Echocardiographic evaluation of thalassemia intermedia patients in Duhok, Iraq. 2014

Ameen Mosa Mohammad
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Duhok University, Kurdistan, Iraq. doctoramb@yahoo.com.

BACKGROUND Cardiac complications are among the most serious problems of thalassemia intermedia patients. The current study was initiated to address the latter issue through the study of the echocardiographic findings and correlate it with clinical characteristics of thalassemia intermedia patients in Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq. METHODS An echocardiographic assessment of 61 beta-thalassemia intermedia cases was performed. It included 30 males and 31 females, with a mean age 19.6 ± 7.5 years. The standard echostudy of two-dimension and M-mode measurements of cardiac chambers were done. The continuous doppler regurgitant jet of tricuspid and pulmonary valves were recorded. Left ventricle diastolic function was assessed by pulsed doppler of mitral valve inflow. To correlate the clinical with echocardiographic findings, patients were divided, according to tricuspid regurgitant velocity, into three groups (<2.5 m/sec, 2.5-2.9 m/sec and ≥3 m/sec). RESULTS Tricuspid regurgitant velocity <2.5 m/sec, 2.5-2.9 m/sec and ≥3 m/sec occurred in 42(69%), 11(18%) and 8(13%) respectively. Comparing to other groups patients with tricuspid regurgitant velocity ≥3 m/sec were older and included more males. They had lower hemoglobin levels, but higher ferritin levels. Their age at diagnosis and the age of the initiation of blood transfusion were later. Most of them had significant exertional dyspnea. They also had relatively lower left ventricle ejection fraction values. Right ventricular diameter and right atrial size were larger in the same group. Tricuspid regurgitant velocity as a continuous predictor was associated positively with age, cardiac volumes and pulmonary regurgitation though negatively associated with ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS Echo-derived right and left side cardiac complications are not uncommon in thalassemia intermedia patients. Therapeutic trails targeting these complications are indicated, and echocardiographic assessment is necessary to be offered early for thalassemia intermedia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006976 Hypertension, Pulmonary Increased VASCULAR RESISTANCE in the PULMONARY CIRCULATION, usually secondary to HEART DISEASES or LUNG DISEASES. Pulmonary Hypertension
D007493 Iraq A country bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait. The capital is Baghdad. Republic of Iraq
D008297 Male Males
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D011664 Pulmonary Valve A valve situated at the entrance to the pulmonary trunk from the right ventricle. Pulmonary Valves,Valve, Pulmonary,Valves, Pulmonary
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014261 Tricuspid Valve The valve consisting of three cusps situated between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. Tricuspid Valves,Valve, Tricuspid,Valves, Tricuspid
D014262 Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency Backflow of blood from the RIGHT VENTRICLE into the RIGHT ATRIUM due to imperfect closure of the TRICUSPID VALVE. Tricuspid Incompetence,Tricuspid Regurgitation,Tricuspid Valve Incompetence,Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation,Incompetence, Tricuspid,Incompetence, Tricuspid Valve,Insufficiency, Tricuspid Valve,Regurgitation, Tricuspid,Regurgitation, Tricuspid Valve,Valve Incompetence, Tricuspid,Valve Insufficiency, Tricuspid,Valve Regurgitation, Tricuspid

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