title: Clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension in thalassemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore clinical indicators for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in thalassemia (Thal).
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted in thalassemia patients at Chiang Rai Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was determined by doppler echocardiography and PAH was defined as PASP > 35 mmHg. Patient characteristics were extracted from medical records. Characteristics of patients with and without PAH were compared. Risk indicators were explored with logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenty four patients were included, 144 E/beta-Thal, 37 homozygous beta-Thal and 43 Hb H disease. There were 65 patients (29.0%) with PAH, 53 (81.5%) with E/beta-Thal, 8 (12.3%) with homozygous beta-Thal and 4 (6.2%) with Hb H disease. In a multivariable analysis, features significantly associated with PAH were E/beta-Thal (OR = 1.98, 95% CI; 1.29-3.01) and post splenectomy status (OR = 2.36, 95% CI; 1.17-4.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant indicators for PAH in thalassemia were E/beta-Thal and post splenectomy status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Chiang Rai Hospital, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nonlawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chueamuangphan
authors.forename: Wattana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wongtheptien
authors.forename: Weerasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nawarawong
authors.forename: Apichard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukornthasarn
authors.forename: Suporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chuncharunee
authors.forename: Chamaiporn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tawichasri
authors.forename: Jayanton
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patumanond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*