title: Thromboembolic complications in beta-thalassemia: Beyond the horizon.
abstract: Patients with beta-thalassemia have a chronic hypercoagulable state with increased incidence of thromboembolic episodes. The thrombotic complications are more common in thalassemia intermedia than in regularly transfused thalassemia major. The pathophysiologic defects include inherent red cell defects, platelet abnormalities, deficiency of coagulation inhibitors, and additional acquired abnormalities like cardiac and liver dysfunction, hormonal deficiencies. These factors and possible preventive measures are discussed in this review. An illustrative case is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-12, India. inupan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Inusha
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Panigrahi
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology