title: A case of pulmonary thromboembolism in thalassemia intermedia: are these patients at risk for thrombotic events?
abstract: We describe a case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a 48-year-old woman with thalassemia intermedia and no other risk factors. Multiple bilateral defects were detected by perfusion lung scan. No sources of emboli were detected, despite extensive evaluation. We suggest that a chronic hypercoagulable state due to multiple coagulation alterations might be a cause of thromboembolic events in thalassemia intermedia patients, even when no other risk factors are present.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, I Scuola di Specializzazione in Medicina Interna, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciceri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cappellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin