title: Does heterozygous beta-thalassemia confer a protection against coronary artery disease?
abstract: Six hundred and thirty-eight patients who presented with clinical symptoms and/or electrocardiographic findings suggestive of stable angina pectoris were studied; they were also investigated by coronary arteriography. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed on all patients to detect the presence of the beta-thalassemia trait. Results were analyzed by logistic regression analysis to determine whether the latter confers any protective effect against advanced coronary artery disease (aCAD; defined as the presence of atheromas in coronary arteries, resulting in stenosis at least 70%). The role of the currently accepted risk factors (smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes) in developing aCAD were reconfirmed, while at the same time it was found that beta-thalassemia heterozygosity is associated with a reduced risk against aCAD (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.98). The lipoprotein and blood rheology profile of these individuals may be the underlying causes of this protective effect.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stergios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tassiopoulos
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deftereos
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farmakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsironi
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyriakidis
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aessopos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D018056:Hemorheology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins