title: Correlation of splenectomy with portal vein thrombosis in beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlation of portal vein thrombosis and splenectomy in beta-thalassemia major patients visiting Babol Medical University, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cohort study was done from 1997 to 2008. In our study, major beta-thalassemic patients visiting for transfusion at least once a month at Amirkola Children's Hospital were selected. Portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed through Doppler ultrasound in symptomatic patients. Cases were 160 beta-thalassemia major patients who underwent splenectomy and 160 remaining thalassemic patients without splenectomy were controls. Statistical comparison with Fisher exact test was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cases had suffered from portal vein thrombosis (P = 0.03). Majority patients with portal vein thrombosis had their symptoms after first month of the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlation of splenectomy with portal vein thrombosis is statistically significant among beta-thalassemic children from Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoodi Nesheli
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Galini Moghaddam
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tahereb
authors.forename: Tamaddoni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Darzi Ali
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.forename: Esmaeili Dooki Mohammad
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Reza
authors.forename: Bijani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Mahmoodi Nesheli
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mohsen
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants