Longitudinal assessment of cardiac status by echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in thalassaemic children.
Cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in patients affected by thalassaemia major. In most cases diastolic dysfunction precedes the onset of systolic impairment at a time when appropriate therapy can prevent progression of cardiac damage. We have assessed the pattern of left ventricular filling by Doppler echocardiography in six transfusion-dependent thalassaemic patients. They were re-evaluated 5 y after the first observation, after additional blood transfusions and consequent iron load. We registered a significantly impaired relaxation pattern in all of them. A state of cardiac anoxia has been hypothesized.
Fiorillo
A
A
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Federico 1, Naples, Italy.
Farina
V
V
D'Amore
R
R
Scippa
L
L
Cortese
P
P
DeChiara
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003971:Diastole; D018450:Disease Progression; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*