title: Usefulness of pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging in assessment of left ventricular functions in children with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes in the LV systolic and diastolic function in children with beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) using pulsed wave tissue doppler (TD) echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, conventional echo doppler and pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging parameters were compared in 40 beta-thalassemia major patients (mean age, 6.52 ± 3.5 y) and 25 age and sex matched normal subjects (mean age, 6.5 ± 2.7 y).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant statistical differences between mean fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) of left ventricle (LV) of the patients and control group. Children with beta-thalassemia had significantly lower E' wave velocities measured at the left ventricular septal annulus (8.1 ± 3.3 vs. 13 ± 2.5, P < 0.001), lateral margin of the mitral annulus (9.1 ± 5.4 vs. 13.3 ± 2.5, P < 0.001) and lateral margin of the tricuspid annulus (9.3 ± 3.9 vs. 13.3 ± 2.5, P < 0.001) when compared to the control group. Furthermore children with beta-thalassemia had significantly lower E'/A' wave ratio at the left ventricular septal annulus (0.76 ± 0.34 vs. 1.36 ± 0.23), lateral margin of the mitral annulus (0.83 ± 0.17 vs. 1.28 ± 0.22), and lateral margin of the tricuspid annulus ((0.90 ± 0.27 vs. 1.26 ± 0.23, (P < 0.05) when compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that patients with beta-thalassemia major and normal conventional echo doppler parameters had statistically significant changes detected by pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt 63514. abdelmoktader2006@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmed Mahmoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdelmoktader
authors.forename: Hany Younan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Azer
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007194:India; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003676:Deferoxamine