title: Carotid intima-media thickness is increased and related to arterial stiffening in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Grantham Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. xfcheung@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron