Carotid intima-media thickness is increased and related to arterial stiffening in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.
An increased iron store has been linked to the risk of atherosclerosis. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), stiffness index, Young's elastic modulus (YEM), and augmentation index were determined in 20 patients with beta-thalassaemia major. Compared with controls, patients had greater IMT (P < 0.001), YEM (P = 0.005), and stiffness (P = 0.009) and augmentation (P = 0.03) indices. The odds ratio for increased IMT in patients was 39. Carotid IMT correlated with YEM (P = 0.036), stiffness index (P = 0.036) and augmentation index (P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis identified patient status (P < 0.001) as the only significant determinant of IMT. These findings suggest the possibility of premature atherosclerosis in beta-thalassaemia major patients.
Cheung
Y F
YF
Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Grantham Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. xfcheung@hkucc.hku.hk
Chow
P C
PC
Chan
G C
GC
Ha
S Y
SY
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D007501:Iron