title: Premature atherosclerosis in non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia intermedia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  β-Thalassemias are inherited hemolytic anemias with a broad phenotype and an increased rate of vascular complications despite a near absence of coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the presence of endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in non-transfusion-dependent patients with β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) by means of flow-mediated (FMD) and flow-independent (FID) brachial artery dilatation and carotid artery intima-media thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 20 nondiabetic young adults with β-TI, FMD (6.6 ± 3.7 vs. 10.3 ± 3.1%; p = 0.002) and FID (14.0 ± 4.7 vs. 18.0 ± 5.6%; p = 0.02) were both lower relative to the values in 20 matched control subjects, whereas the intima-media thickness was increased (0.51 ± 0.09 vs. 0.46 ± 0.07 mm; p = 0.049). Fibrin generation, soluble endothelial activation markers, and proinflammatory proteins were higher in the patient group, while the plasma cholesterol level was lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate premature atherosclerosis among patients with β-TI; this is in accord with the high incidence of noncoronary vascular episodes in β-TI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Patras Medical School, Rio, Greece. ghahalis @ otenet.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hahalis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terzis
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tselepis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kourakli
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mylona
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grapsas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology