Is beta-thalassemia trait a protective factor against ischemic cerebrovascular accidents?
OBJECTIVE
In this research, we sought to determine the association between beta-thalassemia trait and ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA).


METHODS
In acase-control study, 148 patients with thromboembolic cerebrovascular events were evaluated for the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and beta-thalassemia trait. A total of 156 age- and sex-matched patients with no cardiac or cerebrovascular diseases, serving as the control group, were also investigated for the above-mentioned risk factors.


RESULTS
We found that 6.1% of patients with ischemic CVA and 12.2% of the control group had beta-thalassemia trait (P = .066). In male patients, the negative association between ischemic CVA and presence of beta-thalassemia trait was significant (P = .008). In patients, the prevalence of hypertension was also significantly different between those with and without beta-thalassemia trait (P = .01); those with beta-thalassemia trait had a lower mean blood pressure than those without the trait.


CONCLUSIONS
beta-Thalassemia trait may have a protective effect against ischemic CVA that might be caused by the lower arterial blood pressure observed in those with this trait.
Karimi
Mehran
M
Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. karimim@sums.ac.ir
Borhani Haghighi
Afshin
A
Yazdani
Maryam
M
Raisi
Hamideh
H
Giti
Rahil
R
Namazee
Mohammad Reza
MR
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology