title: An echo-cardiographic (M-mode & 2D) analysis of thalassaemia major.
abstract: 25 cases of thalassaemia major were studied by 2D and M-mode echocardiography. A significantly increased (p less than 0.001) mean value (100.8 +/- 27.37 msec, range 80 to 140 msec) of A2-E (early relaxation period) interval on M-mode was observed in thalassemia in comparison to mean level (82.6 +/- 5.7, range 60 to 100 msec) of control population. No significant differences were noted in FS % (fractional shortening) and EF% (ejection fraction) when compared to corresponding normal values respectively. Mean serum iron concentration (142.2 +/- 29.1 micrograms/dl, range 102 to 192 micrograms/dl) was significantly higher in thalassaemia as compared to normal population (mean 106.3 +/- 11.4 micrograms/dl, range 75 to 120 micrograms/dl). There was also a direct correlation between serum iron concentration and A2-E interval. 11 patients (44%) showed abnormal A2-E interval but only 3 patients (12%) showed abnormal percentage of FS and EF. It is therefore concluded that A2-E interval will help to detect early left ventricular dysfunction much before overt and irreversible heart failure becomes manifest and which will also help to optimise transfusion and chelation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biochemistry, Singh Hospital, Calcutta.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Senior
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Batabyal
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bhattacharji
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Maity
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins