title: Premature atherosclerosis in children with β-thalassemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic hemolysis and increased body iron burden with development of premature atherosclerosis by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), ferritin, serum lipid profile, homocysteine, nitrate/nitrite, and chitotriosidase enzyme activity in children with β-thalassemia major.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 children with a diagnosis of β-thalassemia major between the ages of 4 to 16 years constituted the study group. Control group was consisted of 36 age-matched healthy children. Complete blood count, serum glucose, lipid profile, ferritin, homocysteine, calcium, chitotriosidase, and nitrate/nitrite levels were measured and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic investigation and carotid IMT measurement were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In study group serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were found to be significantly reduced, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were found to be significantly elevated. Plasma nitrate/nitrite levels were significantly reduced; chitotroisidase enzyme activity was significantly increased and carotid IMT was significantly increased in study group. Nitrate/nitrite was found to be the only variable that was statistically significantly related to carotid IMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical atherosclerosis in children with β-thalassemia major begins early in life, and these children are at risk for development of premature atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey. ogursel@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gursel
authors.forename: Ahmet E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kurekci
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tascilar
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ileri
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tapan
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocaoglu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Okutan
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006461:Hemolysis; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D006710:Homocysteine; D005293:Ferritins; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C086400:chitotriosidase