title: Longitudinal assessment of cardiac status by echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function in thalassaemic children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Federico 1, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorillo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Amore
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scippa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeChiara
mesh_terms: 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*